Founded in 2002, Success Won’t Wait is a non profit literacy program based in Wilmington, Delaware. www.SuccessWontWait.org How do we operate? Program.
Founded in 2002 by Susan McNeill & Vincenza Carrieri-Russo, Success Won’t Wait, Inc. is a non-profit literacy program based in Wilmington, Delaware. The organization’s mission is to encourage reading, particularly by children, and services Delaware and the surrounding states. Success Won’t Wait volunteers organize used book drives, calling on ordinary citizens to donate used books for redistributi
on in the community. To date, dozens of book drives have been held throughout the Mid-Atlantic at many different types of locations. Both private and public schools — from pre-schools to the University of Delaware – have become involved. In addition, businesses, retail locations, churches, and civic associations have also agreed to become book drop locations for donations, or have themselves become large book donors. But the greatest outpouring is consistently shown by countless individuals, who have scoured their garages, basements, and bookcases for unused books in support of the program and its mission. Success Won’t Wait has collected over 500,000 books, with approximately 20,000 of those currently awaiting distribution. After books have been collected, they must be cleaned and inspected for damage. Pencil marks are erased, minor rips repaired, previous owner’s names are blacked out, and spines are strengthened. Books are then sorted according to category and age appeal. Finally, a Success Won’t Wait, Inc. sticker is placed on the inside and outside cover. This identifies the organization as well as provides information to any reader who might be interested in donating or volunteering. Where are we located? Success Won’t Wait’s offices and warehouse facility are located at 1729 Marsh Road in North Wilmington. This office is staffed part-time and offers donors a permanent drop location as well as increased visibility in the community.
Since its inception, the group has expanded its original mission and developed three major project areas:
~ Children’s Book Baskets. To date, Success Won’t Wait, Inc. has provided over 200 children’s book baskets to locations in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. These baskets are filled with 30-50 children’s books and are carefully chosen to include something for everyone, from ABC’s, to easy readers, to joke books for pre-teens. They are placed, at no cost, in waiting rooms and lobbies where children frequently have to wait. Examples of placement locations include Kids Kuts, American Dance Academy, and Winner Ford of Newark.
~ Creating “Independent Libraries.” Each library contains over 1,000 books that are specially chosen tot reflect the needs of the population. Libraries are created in both temporary residential and day-only settings. Examples of libraries that have already been developed include: The Bayard House, a temporary residential facility for pregnant teens; Telegraph Road Learning Center, an alternative learning facility for teens with special needs; and Delaware Adolescent Program, a special high school for young parents and girls aged 12-19 who are pregnant; Exceptional Care, a hospice in Newark for chronically ill and dying children; and PAL Center in New Castle, a refuge for inner city youth.
~ Special Projects. Large book donations, frequently in excess of 1,000 books each, are culled from our collection for various organizations and groups. Examples include our U.S. troops stationed overseas (through the Operation AC program), Gander Hill and Baylor Women’s Prisons, Delaware Foster Grandparents Program, and Kent County’s P.E.A.K.
06/01/2026
First State Home Team is a local real estate team with Keller Williams Wilmington. The company hosts an annual Spring Fling Client Event, which also includes a charitable component, in order to give back to the local community. And this year, Success Won’t Wait was selected as the beneficiary of the Spring Fling Client Event! Employees and guests brought gently used books, knowing that they would be used throughout the state in much-needed locations, from underfunded after-school programs, to senior centers, to community organizations.
Many, many thanks to the entire First State Home Team!
Now in its 47th year, the Delaware Division of Libraries annual Summer Library Reading Program starts Monday, June 1, 2026! This year’s theme, “Unearth a Story” opens doors to a world of imagination, learning, and creativity.
The Summer Library Reading Program has so many benefits! Not only does it promote learning during summer break in a fun way, it also sharpens literacy skills, encourages reluctant readers, and fosters a passion for reading. And, the annual program motivates children, teens, and adults of all ages to experience the joy of reading throughout the long, lazy summer. Best of all? It’s completely free!
Here’s a shocking statistic. 45% of American children live in book deserts. These are neighborhoods that lack a public library or stores that sell books.
The term book desert was coined by Unite For Literacy to call attention to serious inequalities that compromise children’s reading development. According to researcher Susan Neuman, for children growing up in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty, book deserts severely hamper their ability to come to school ready to learn.
What are Book Deserts… and Do You Live in One?
Here’s a shocking statistic. 45% of American children live in book deserts. These are neighborhoods that lack a public library or stores that sell books. The term book desert was coined by Unite Fo…
05/17/2026
Today is National Little Free Library Day! This special day celebrates the global movement to expand book access for all. Led by the Little Free Library nonprofit organization, this special day honors the more than 200,000 Little Free Library book-sharing boxes around the world. These boxes are open 24/7 and are freely accessible to all readers. In fact, these little boxes pack a big punch, bringing books to readers in 128 countries on seven continents!
Bold claim: Reading may actually help you live longer. But don’t just take it from us. In a recent article from Very Well Health, experts explain, “Reading might be the key to living longer. According to a study from researchers at the Yale University School of Public Health, reading books could reduce mortality by up to 20%.”
At Success Won't Wait, our largest donations consistently come from enterprising individuals and groups who host targeted book drives through their schools, churches and businesses.
Our most recent example? Caravel Academy’s National Honor Society Used Book Drive which yielded more than 1,000 books for local literacy projects!
The books range from pre-K to high school and will be used for new and ongoing programs, such as the nearby Claymont Community Center and New Castle County government buildings. And, some immediately made it into our own, brand-new Success Won’t Wait and Ice Cream Delight “Little Free Library.”
Many thanks to all of the members of Caravel Academy’s National Honor Society for organizing this book drive. We couldn’t do it without you!
05/02/2026
It's that time of year, again! Don’t miss out! The next Friends of the Hockessin Library Used Book Sale is happening May 29-30 (10:00 am – 3:00 pm) right in the Hockessin Library Community Room (1023 Valley Road). Whether you’re hunting for a rare biography, a new cookbook, children’s treasures just in time for summer reading or simply the perfect beach novel for yourself, you’ll find it there!
The wait is over! The brand-new Success Won’t Wait Little Free Library is officially open! The library contains children’s books for all ages, from pre-K to picture books, emerging reader chapter books to teen favorites.
The new Little Free Library is housed at 1 Ice Cream Drive, Wilmington, DE 19810 (which is adjacent to the Success Won’t Wait office at 1729 Marsh Road). The library is a joint venture between Success Won’t Wait and Ice Cream Delight (ICD), which has been a longtime partner and literacy supporter.
So, please stop by to see what our Little Free Library has in store (and don’t forget to grab a yummy ice cream treat, too!).
Many thanks go to Success Won’t Wait volunteer Hilary Newman (again!) for her painting skills and creativity.
04/21/2026
Spearheaded by Long Term Services and Supports Supervisor Amanda Webb, LCSW, the AmeriHealth Caritas Delaware team recently hosted a book drive with Success Won’t Wait as the beneficiary. Employees scoured their attics, garages and bookshelves for books to donate in a variety of categories. The result? A literal truckload of titles – from pre-K faves to teen reads, adult fiction to beautiful coffee table books!
Get ready! National Library Week is April 19-25, 2026. National Library Week is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role that libraries and library professionals play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. And, it's a time to recognize all that libraries and librarians contribute to our society!
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