The FrontPorch.
A pop-up book cart we bring to senior living communities, Senior Days, libraries, church events, festivals, and markets across Greater Houston. At senior events, every book is free. At community events, books are $2.
Two to three of our own people01What happens at the cart
Pick a book.Pick a bookmark.That's the whole thing.
We roll in an hour early, set the cart, the umbrella, and the flowers, and then we hand out books for two or three hours. Every guest picks out bookmarks and stickers, and our short pocket guide is there for anyone who wants one. There's nothing to sign, and no sign-up sheet anywhere on the cart.
The shelf rotates: cozy mysteries, biography and memoir, faith and inspiration, gardening and home, cooking, history, and the classics. Large print stays stocked at every single appearance, because at most of our events it's the first thing to go.
Some hosts would rather have a treat cart than a book cart. We do that too, and we'll bring both when the crowd is big enough.
Large print at every appearance03Where the cart goes
We come wherewe're invited.
- Senior living, independent living, and assisted living communities
- Neighborhood and 55-plus clubhouses
- Church and parish events
- Public library programs
- Park days, markets, and city festivals
- Senior expos and resource fairs
- Open houses and community socials
Where we work
04Talks
Want the conversation,not just the cart?
We also give plain-language talks for residents, families and staff, with time for questions. Same promise as the cart: no sales pitch.
05The rules we hold ourselves to
Four promises, and we don't bend them.
Every appearance, every venue, whichever way the cart comes.
- 01
No sign-up sheet at the cart.
Nobody hands over a name or an email to take a book.
- 02
No sales pitch, ever.
We hand out books and answer questions when we're asked. We don't talk anyone into anything.
- 03
We come only where we're invited.
Your guests' good afternoon is the whole goal.
- 04
Our details stay on the bookmark.
The only contact information anywhere on the cart is printed on the bookmark, for the families who ask.
Promise 04, in your handThe bookmark is the only place our details appear.
06For publishers, retailers, libraries and community giving programs
We're looking forbooks to give away.
Every book you donate goes to our senior events, where every book is free. We hand out somewhere between 60 and 100 books at a typical appearance, and we're building toward a cart at a community event or a senior living community about twice a month.
Talk to us about a donation
Radica McKenzie, Head of Community and Partnership Growth
08Bring us out
Want the cartat your event?
We bring everything: the cart, the umbrella, the flowers, the books, the totes, and two to three of our own people. We need a level 8 by 8 foot spot and an invitation. Setup takes an hour, teardown takes about thirty minutes, and the space is left exactly as we found it.
When you reach out, tell us who the event is for, and we'll confirm which way the cart comes.
Rather talk it through? Email radica@harborlaneseniorconcierge.com or call 1 (888) 575-1884.