(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Kay McKeen doesn’t like the idea of books going into landfills.
“Every day people throw out books they no longer need, and those books could end up in landfills,” she says. “But there are many people, especially children and teachers, who could really use those books, and that's why I started SCARCE.”
SCARCE in west suburban Addison keeps old books out of landfills by finding new homes for them.
"We are close to 9,000,000 books that teachers and not-for-profits have chosen. Lots more have been recycled," said McKeen, founder and executive director of the venture.
She said books donated to SCARCE have gone across the country and around the world, “every state in our country and 105 other countries.”
SCARCE helps teachers and students in other ways.
"We've expanded to accepting school supplies and backpacks and musical instruments.
For many of these kids, this is their only chance to participate in music education. These donations are critical as schools' budgets have been cut," McKeen said.
SCARCE also helps people help the planet.
"If you don't know there's a place that needs books, they're going to go in the landfill. So, we want to help people take action to help kids have books and also to help the environment," McKeen said.