08/28/2026
Imagine being so selfless that your birthday wish was to donate the number of books matching your age to children in need, purchased from every independent bookstore in Minnesota.
That is exactly what Sharon did. 💜
.. and then her son matched it. 🎁
We were honored to be a stop on Sharon's journey to fulfill her birthday wish. She used such care to select each book--making sure to choose diverse stories so children from all walks of life can see themselves in the stories.
The books were donated to an organization called My Very Own Bed, which provides a new bed and a personalized Dream Kit to children age 2-17 who do not have a bed of their own.
What an incredible gift. 🎁
To celebrate her birthday, Sharon embarked on a tour of Minnesota’s independent bookstores with a special mission: collecting books for our Dream Kits. One standout stop was Lykke Books in New Ulm, where store owner Brie Taralson was moved to tears learning about the cause. Sharon shared high praise for the visit, noting that Brie "runs a wonderful, welcoming space with a great selection and a community gathering place. She and her staff were gems!" The celebration became even more meaningful when Sharon’s son surprised her with a matching gift—bringing their total donation to 140 brand-new books for children receiving beds. We're so grateful for this wonderful gift!
