A group of writers and booksellers (Carolyn Forche, Mitchell Kaplan, Christopher Merrill, Askold Melnyczuk, and Jane Unrue) have partnered with the Coral Gables Foundation to raise funds for direct support to booksellers, editors, printers, warehouse workers, libraries and librarians, and other personnel involved in the publishing industry and book culture.

Helping Ukrainian Books and Booksellers (HUBB) aims to support Ukrainian booksellers, editors, printers, warehouse workers, libraries and librarians and others involved in the publishing industry so that literary culture in Ukraine survives.

The group is seeking donations that will be used to make direct grants to booksellers and others in the publishing industry in financial crisis; to help make printing and production facilities operational, and to assist in the purchase of books for libraries in regions affected by the war. All contributions are tax-deductible.

As HUBB wrote, “According to Oleksandr Afonin, president of the Ukrainian Association of Booksellers and Publishers, since February over 3,000 publishing professionals have lost their livelihoods. A number have lost their lives. Many bookstores and book warehouses in the eastern part of the country have been destroyed. Book sales in Ukraine dropped from 40 million last year to 4 million in 2022. Children began the school year without new textbooks.”

For more information and to donate, click here.