Barnes & Noble Residency...

I mentioned it in my last post.  At the moment, it feels like I live at Barnes & Noble!  I jokingly call it my "B&N Residency Program".

Nationwide, Barnes & Noble has a number of charity initiatives and one of them is their gift-wrapping program.  Every year, the store manager or community manager at each location work with local charities in order to bring in volunteers for gift-wrapping.  This allows each charity some "face time" with a fairly captive (and usually generous) audience.

This VERY large dachshund Fred (ok, he's a lab) and his foster momma came to visit me! Highlight of my morning! #rescuedogsrock #blacklab #adoptdontshop #christmas #supportrescue

A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on Nov 28, 2015 at 7:29am PST

Sure, it means that you have to be dedicated to showing up for your assigned shifts and it would be best if you at least quasi enjoy gift-wrapping! B&N is kind enough to provide the signage, overhead announcements, and wrapping paper.  That means each charity is giving of their time and perhaps a little marketing material to pass off to the folks visiting your table. While their primary focus is literacy (for obvious reasons), the staff has a wonderful appreciation for animal related charities.

Coffee, reading and rescue.... Not a bad way to spend my evening! @littlepawsdr #charitygiftwrapping #littlepawsdr #rescuedogsrock #christmas #shopping #bringmeallthecoffee

A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on Dec 4, 2015 at 4:51pm PST

This year, the community manager at "my" store in Hingham, MA was...well, generous, with the dates he gave me.  Between Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas week, I'll be at B&N a dozen times - three of those shifts being open to close!  I'm so appreciative of B&N, as well as the generosity of the shoppers who make donations (trust me...not everyone does, even after I've wrapped quite a few oddly shaped gifts for them); it helps bring in more awareness of Little Paws Dachshund Rescue!

I'm back at Barnes and Noble for #charitygiftwrapping! Accepting visitors and all offers of caffeine! @littlepawsdr #christmas #shopping #bringmeallthecoffee #begenerous

A photo posted by Nicole Fowler (@cole711) on Dec 6, 2015 at 8:40am PST

I also have to say that I love the baristas at my store.  They keep me caffeinated!  If you happen to live near me - or know someone who does - I could use a wrapping buddy!

P.S. The book you can see on a few of my Instagram pictures (Some Luck by Jane Smiley) is wonderful.  I'll be reviewing it soon!