Read more, help more. That’s our motto.
Why we’re here
Little Charity Book Truck is Rachel Cleveland’s way of using a personal journey of healing as a force for good through giving back to the Twin Cities community.
Little Charity Book Truck is fully mobile - by not having a brick and mortar storefront the organization has very few administrative and overhead costs. Similarly, all individuals involved with the book truck are volunteers so every dollar made through book purchases goes directly back into the community. Reading books while helping others, what could be better?
Sometimes the best stories aren't just found between the pages, they're written by communities coming together, one book at a time.
Our mission
Spreading a love of reading, one book at a time, to support youth-focused Minnesota charities in their goal of improving the lives of the people in their communities.
Our vision
To ignite a passion for reading while lifting up Minnesota’s youth in need.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you raise money?
Little Charity Book Truck runs bookselling events throughout the summer around the Twin Cities and the metro area. We purchase brand new books at a discount from a distributor and sell them at list price. By not having a brick-and-mortar bookstore we have very little overhead costs.
Can I buy books or audiobooks online?
Yes! Visit our bookshop.org storefront to do so. We do our best to keep it updated with new and interesting titles. Thirty percent of the cover price is donated directly to our partner charities. If you prefer audiobooks, please consider supporting our organization by connecting to our libro.fm audiobookshop.
I’m an author and want you to carry my book. How can I do that?
Please complete this Google form. If we are interested in stocking the book, we will follow up with you directly.
Who do you donate to?
LCBT’s mission is to support youth, young adults, and young families here in Minnesota. Our 2027 partner is Every Meal. You can learn more about them on the Donate page.
Can you attend our event?
Little Charity Book Truck operates April through August and is open to attending public events including farmers markets, community festivals, art fairs, maker markets, local celebrations, breweries, wineries, coffee shops, bakeries, etc. We will not attend any political or religious events. Currently, LCBT will not attend small private events like birthday parties, book clubs, etc. If you have a public-facing event and you would like the book truck to attend, please reach out early. Send an email with information about the event through the Contact page. As a note, we cannot operate in rainy weather or dangerous heat or smoke.
Do you only sell new books? Can I donate books?
We only sell new books and do not accept used book donations.
How can our organization receive funds raised by Little Charity Book Truck?
We partner with one charitable organization each year. If your Minnesota nonprofit supports youths, young adults, and/or young families we encourage you to apply to receive LCBT funding. We will not support religious or political organizations and funds requested must be used to provide direct services to children. Administrative and salary support will not be considered. The application period for the following year is June 1 through August 15. Funding decisions are announced by September 15.
Impact
In our first season in operation Little Charity Book Truck donated $12,000 plus $1,600 worth of new books to two organizations, The Link and V3 Sports.
In 2025, Little Charity Book Truck donated $15,000 to Avenues for Youth.
Our 2026 partner was My Very Own Bed and we raised $25,000 for their organization. In total Little Charity Book Truck has donated more than $52,000 to Twin Cities nonprofits helping kids.
We also participate in other smaller giving opportunities throughout the year as well as drives collecting food, supplies, and other essentials.
Our 2027 partner is Every Meal.
Click on the sunburst to read 2025’s annual report. The 2026 annual report will be available in the fall.
