The team here at First Light is inspired by 100s of bookstores around the world. The tiny antiquarian bookshop in London. The neighborhood beacon in San Francisco. Small-town icons in Iowa, Mississippi, Wyoming, Maine. Those dark green bouquinistes that pop up along the river in Paris. A bookstore, of any kind, is always a good idea.

There are so many to love and admire. First up, Housing Works Bookstore in New York City. 

Tucked away off of Crosby Street in downtown Manhattan is a bookstore that in many ways is the heart and soul of New York's literary universe: Housing Works. The twenty-foot-tall ceilings immediately tell you that this is no ordinary bookstore. And yes, the books and cafe are worth the stop on their own. The donated book selection is unpredictable and oftentimes very rare. But what makes Housing Works a one-of-one is its commitment to the city and its vulnerable communities. For more than 30 years, everything at Housing Works has been in service of lifesaving services for homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. The bookseller and barista helping you might be volunteers. And 100% of proceeds support their core mission. So next time you find yourself in NYC, make a trip downtown to one of the very best, Housing Works Bookstore.