Brilliant Books in Traverse City, Mich., has raised more than $35,000 through a GoFundMe campaign the bookstore launched last month, UpNorthLive reported.
With that money, store owner Peter Makin will be able to pay off one of the store's biggest suppliers, as well as settle debts acquired during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a post on the bookstore's website, Makin and co. thanked "all of our incredible patrons across the country (and even a few overseas!)" for "coming out of the woodwork" to support the store. After the store announced that it "still had a ways to go" on the campaign, the "GoFundMe jumped more than $10,000 overnight." Donations were made by phone, by mail, and in person, and there were so many orders pouring in "it felt like the holiday rush all over again!"
"We're grateful that you think enough of us and what we do to step up and lend us a hand, whether by a donation, a purchase, a shared social media post, an event scheduled or in the works, or any of the myriad other ways in which you've made a difference," the team wrote. "We're grateful that what we do matters to you and you care enough about that (and us!) to want us to stick around. We're grateful for each and every one of you, all you book lovers who give us a reason (or many reasons) to keep on doing what we love."