Rachel Cleveland opens her Little Charity Book Truck for sales.
Little Charity Book Truck/TNS
MINNEAPOLIS — If Rachel Cleveland had been able to snag a job at a library, the Little Charity Book Truck might not exist.
“My dream has always been to work in a library or bookstore,” said the Chaska, Minnesota, woman, who chased that dream after a recent health scare. “I actually applied to a bunch of library jobs out here. I must have applied to 10 and didn’t get even one interview. So, I was like, ‘This stinks.’ That was actually my kick in the pants to do this.”
“This” is a tricked-out 1996 Toyota truck, imported from Japan, that turns into a mobile bookstore. Little Charity Book Truck buys new books at a discount, sells them at list price and gives 40% of the proceeds to two charities: V3 Sports, which is raising money to build an athletic facility, including a pool, in north Minneapolis; and the Link, which serves young people dealing with homelessness, sexual exploitation and the justice system.
Beginning last May and extending into October, Little Charity Book Truck is visiting 50 to 60 farmers markets, community events and coffee shops, peddling bestsellers in a range of genres. The store stocks several hundred titles and, on a good day such as the “record-breaking” one she had at the Stone Arch Bridge Festival, sells up to 100 books.
Much like a food truck, stops are listed on a website, littlecharitybooktruck.org, and on its Instagram page, which is the best place to look for rainouts and schedule changes.
A lot of pieces had to fall into place for the book truck to hit the road: Cleveland has a master’s degree in public policy and a background in nonprofit work, so she knew where to look for start-up information. She’s buddies with Angie Ross, the owner of Chapter One books in Victoria, who offered advice. Cleveland’s husband, John, is a “car nut” who owns a Toyota and Lexus repair shop in Eden Prairie, and knew the perfect truck model. And Cleveland loves giving back, something she knows she’s fortunate to be able to do. All work for the truck is volunteer; she does not draw a salary.
