Say hello, offer books, or ask for some.
We answer in the evenings, usually within two days.
In person
Handovers happen by arrangement in Calgary, with a parent present. Message us and we'll pick a time and send the address.
Looking for CIWA? For settlement, language, youth or family support, contact the Canadian Immigrant Women's Association directly at 403-263-4414 or welcome@ciwa.org. We're their book-drive partner, so we can't help with their programs.
What's this about?
Every message goes to the same inbox and gets read by a person - usually Jeo.
- Donating books? The donate page has the accept list and how handovers work.
- Have books in another language? Tell us which - they're the ones we need most.
- New to Calgary and need books for your kids? See books for families.
- Got a lot of books? Ask for a pickup - 25 or more and we'll come to you.
Safety note: Second Chapters is run by a 15-year-old. A parent is present for every handover and drives every pickup and delivery, and we share our address only after we've agreed on a time. If you'd rather meet at a library or community centre, just say so.
Message us
Everything people ask us
What is Second Chapters, in one sentence?
A student-run book drive in Calgary that collects gently used children's books and gets them, free, to refugee and newcomer families through our partner, the Canadian Immigrant Women's Association (CIWA).
Are you part of CIWA?
No. We're an independent student drive, and CIWA is our partner: we collect and sort the books, and CIWA gets them to the families they work with. For CIWA's own programs, contact them directly at 403-263-4414 or welcome@ciwa.org.
Who runs it, really?
One student. Jeo Metelitsa, a 10th grader in Calgary, founded it in August 2026 and does the collecting, sorting and delivering. A parent drives, supervises handovers, and is home for every drop-off. We're not running a volunteer program yet - when that changes, this page will say so.
Is it a registered charity? Do you give tax receipts?
No to both. Second Chapters is a community drive, not a registered charity, so we can't issue tax receipts - and CIWA can't issue receipts for books given to us. We say this plainly because we'd rather be clear than let anyone assume otherwise.
Do you want money?
No. We don't collect or ask for money. The drive runs on donated books, grocery-store cardboard, a kitchen table and a family car.
Which languages do you need?
Any language other than English is welcome, and dual-language books are especially useful. Arabic, Ukrainian, Dari, Pashto, Tigrinya, Spanish and Somali children's books are among the hardest for us to find. If you have even one, tell us.
What condition do books need to be in?
Good enough that a kid would be pleased to get it. Some wear is completely fine - a loved book looks loved. What we can't use is mould, damp, missing covers, missing pages, or heavy smoke smell. Full list on the donate page.
How do I know the books actually reach families?
Every book is scanned into our count, which is live on the campaign page. Books go in labelled bundles to CIWA. We don't publish photos or stories of the families who receive books - their privacy matters more than our marketing.
I'm new to Calgary. Can I get books for my kids?
Yes - no paperwork, no cost, no questions about why. If you're already connected with CIWA, ask them. Otherwise email us with your children's ages and the languages you read at home. More here.
Are there collection boxes around the city?
No, and we'd rather say so plainly than put out boxes we can't empty reliably. Every donation is arranged directly: message us, we agree on a time, and the books either come to our door in Calgary or we drive out and collect them. Here's how it works.
Where do the books that fail sorting go?
Damaged books go to paper recycling. Adult books and textbooks go to a thrift shop or free-library box. Nothing usable gets thrown away, and nothing gets sold.