Thomas Buhrfiend, a York High School senior, has collected 2,000 books across Elmhurst and wants to reach 5,000 by mid-October.

The books will go to nonprofits that serve troops overseas, children in Chicago and communities in rural Africa, the Elmhurst Independent reported. Buhrfiend gathered the donations through neighborhood canvassing, estate sales and library donations. He is accepting adult, teen and children's books in good condition.

Residents who want to contribute don't need to leave the house. Buhrfiend offers free home pickup and said "he is happy to assist with carrying boxes of books out of the home, if needed."

Where the books go

The charities on Buhrfiend's list each serve a different audience.

Operation Paperback, a national nonprofit founded in 1999, sends gently used books to American troops stationed overseas and to veterans' families at home. The organization has shipped more than 2.9 million books to date.

The African Library Project, founded in 2005, collects donated books in the United States and uses them to start libraries in rural Africa. The group has helped create more than 4,100 libraries so far.

Open Books, based in Chicago, runs literacy programs that engage more than 6,000 young people a year and distributes over 180,000 books annually to children and families.

SCARCE (School & Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education), an environmental education nonprofit in Addison, has operated for more than 35 years and also accepts book donations.

How to donate

Elmhurst residents with books to give can email [email protected] or text (224) 404-1489 to schedule a pickup.

The drive runs through mid-October.