#712 | OCTOBER 7, 2025

Hey, What Are You Reading?

It’s National Book Month and We’re Saluting Our Neighborhood Reads Project

We’ve made it simpler to help keep Napa reading! It’s easier than ever to help CanDo keep your neighborhood Little Free Library (LFL) stocked with tempting books for all ages, with a special focus on kids and youth. You just restock it on an as-needed basis.

Our Neighborhood Reads volunteers, who originally adopted a route of Little Free Libraries to restock once a month, reported that many of them were already kept mostly full by visitors and proprietors. So, instead of committing to a route and a timetable, now you can simply keep an eye on any LFL you come across near your home, or in your journeys around town.

At a Little Free Library, kids and adults can choose a book, take it home, and then keep it if they love it. It’s a great way for people to build up their personal libraries, and to keep on reading!

If you spot a LFL that needs a refill, simply email Andre Garcie at neighborhoodreads@nvcando.org. He’ll put a box of books out for you and you can pick it up at your convenience at his home near Fuller Park in downtown Napa.

Want to get involved? Maybe you, your family, your classroom, your business, or another group you belong to would like to keep a LFL in town filled. Or maybe you could build a LFL to donate to our Napa Valley Communities (some of our schools don’t have one). CanDo? Contact us at info@nvcando.org.

Pax and Val Duran-Heine refill LFLs as part of their 4-H community service work.

Here’s an article about Neighborhood Reads that recently appeared in the Napa Valley Register. We’re very proud of this acknowledgement!

Finally, take a look at the Little Free Library website, where you’ll find info on locating, starting, building, or donating to a LFL. It includes a wonderful world map showing the locations of all the official LFLs— they are all around the globe, helping to keep the joy of reading alive and well!

Napa Celebrates National Book Month

Book Clubs, Literary Events, and More, Happening in October:

• Napa County Libraries calendar of events - filter by location
• St. Helena Library calendar of events
• Book Clubs at Napa County Libraries, Sept. 28 - Oct. 28, including Club de lectura: La granja: A monthly Spanish-language book club at the Napa Library. Monday, October 6, 2025, 5PM
• Free Kid Book Giveaway: The Friends of the Napa Library will be giving away free books for kids in middle school and younger. Sunday, October 19, 2025, 4 p.m. Napa County Library, 580 Coombs Street
• Napa Bookmine Events: Story times, author events, a talk about Monarch Butterflies, ASL Halloween story time, poetry, Open Mic and a Pirate Party!I
• In addition, Bookmine offers these Book Clubs:
• Young Adult Book Club
• Rainbow Book Club
• Teach Truth Book Club
• Feminist Book Club
• Poetry Book Club
• The Napa County Historical Society is launching a new monthly book discussion club. Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 6 p.m. Napa County Historical Society, 1219 1st Street
• Events at Copperfield’s: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Workshop Oct. 11, 2025 - 3:00PM; Book Club meets the first Wednesday of every month from 6 pm -7 pm in their Napa downtown location.

Words Matter

Literature plays a crucial role in fostering cultural understanding by providing insights into diverse perspectives, promoting empathy, and challenging stereotypes.

—Archita Verma, The Impact of Literature on Cultural Understanding

Join CanDo’s PIN at Napa’s DAY AGAINST HATE 

Sunday, October 12

12:30PM - 3:00

Veterans’ Park, downtown Napa

Inspiring Inclusion

More Opportunities to Support Our Community

Volunteer Opportunities & Events to Support Local Nonprofit Groups

Tell 'em you heard about it through CanDo!

Looking for Local Volunteer Opportunities?

Highlights from CanDo's Community Calendar

Oct. 7 - Oct. 20

Oct. 7 - Napa County Seed Library: Skill Share: Fall Seed Harvesting #2 

Oct. 8 - St. Helena High School Wellness Center Open House

Oct. 9 - Napa Humane Community Mixer - Gott's, St. Helena - Dine & Donate

Oct. 11  - Opera Film: Verdi's MACBETH - Salzburg Festival - Jarvis Conservatory, Napa

Oct. 11 - CanDo’s Napa Food Project Green Bag Collection Day

Oct. 11 - 21st Annual Health and Wellness Fair - Feria Gratuita de Salud y Bienesta, 10:00AM - 2:00PM, Napa Valley College

Oct. 11 and 12 - Old Mill Days at Bale Grist Mill features hands-on traditional chores, craft demonstrations by artisans, old-time music, and activities for children. 

Oct. 12 - 2nd Annual Day Against Hate - Veterans' Park, Napa 

Oct. 16 - City of Napa Water-Wise Landscaping Workshop Series - Soils, Mulches, and More - FREE, Registration Required

Oct. 18 - Mentis Youth Mental Health Festival - Ages 12-19 - FREE, Register here: YMHF 2025 

Oct. 19 - Flavors of Film – Family Series - A Taste Of Ratatoullie! - CIA Copia, Napa

Compost Corner

Napa Recycling provides answers to your questions about recycling, composting, and the like.

What to do with unwanted books?

Q: It seems that we are awash in unwanted books these days. What should we do with them?

A: First, you might want to read this article:

On the Heartbreaking Difficulty of Getting Rid of Books: Summer Brennan Attempts Marie Kondo's Approach to Tidying Up Her Library

If you decide to part with some of your books, here are your next steps.

• Prioritize reuse: To give old books that are still in good condition an environmentally friendly second life, try donating them to libraries (Friends of the Napa Library will happily accept them), charities, or schools… or put them in your neighborhood Little Free Library. Or you could sell them online or at used bookstores.

• For damaged or unreadable books: follow Napa Recycling’s guidelines, or try upcycling them into crafts -- find craft ideas here and here.

If you have a question about recycling or other waste disposal, send it to info@nvcando.org with “compost corner” in the subject line. We’ll send it on to Tim, Recycling & Public Education Manager at Napa Recycling & Waste Services. You may first want to check if the answer to your question is here, in NRWS’s Recycling Guide.

Quick Tip

Important New Resource for Older and Disabled Adults in Napa County 

The Napa/Solano Area Agency on Aging is committed to helping older and disabled adults live their best lives. From healthcare counseling to social services, community programs to recreational activities, we offer a wide range of services in Napa County aimed at enhancing your independence and well-being.

See the Napa Resource Guide here. You can also connect by contacting Connections Napa County or downloading the Napa Resource Guide, available in English and Spanish. 

Bits & Pieces

Who Loves Sticks? 

Who would be ecstatic to come upon a Little Free Library full of just-the-right-size sticks while on a walk with their best friend? 

What other LFLs can we establish to enhance our communities? Send your ideas to info@nvcando.org!

You’ll find an amazing array of imaginative alternate LFLs in this inspiring article.

For example, did you know that Napa County has its own Seed Libraries?

Give!Guide

CanDo Garden

Napa Valley Food Project

Food Rescue

Gleaning Project

Pro-Inclusion Napa

Stow It-Don't Throw It

Neighborhood Reads

New to CanDo? Want to receive this nifty eNewsletter? It comes out bright and early the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, full of ways you can volunteer and connect with community.