Hundreds of people in a small Michigan town formed a human chain to help a local bookstore move over 9,000 books to its new home.
God calls us to love one another and be part of each other’s lives. When we show up to help, even in small ways, we reflect His heart. This story is a sweet example of that kind of love in action.
The town of Chelsea, Michigan, home to just over 5,000 residents, came together in a remarkable show of support for Serendipity Books, a small independent bookstore preparing to move to a larger space just down the street.
Rather than hiring movers or boxing up thousands of books, the community lined up in two rows, forming a 350-foot “book brigade” that stretched from the old location to the new one, down the block and around the corner on Main Street.
Over the course of two hours, 300 people passed all 9,100 books hand to hand. The store’s owner, Michelle Tuplin, described it as both practical and meaningful: “It was a practical way to move the books, but it also was a way for everybody to have a part.”
As each book moved through the hands of volunteers, there were smiles, comments, and shared memories. “As people passed the books along, they said ‘I have not read this’ and ‘that’s a good one’,” Tuplin recalled.
The sense of joy and community was strong, echoing the deep relationships many in the town share. “It became so buzzy in town. So many people wanted to help,” she added.
Tuplin had announced the move back in January, and the idea caught on quickly. The actual move took much less time than a traditional one and was far more personal, with books placed back on the shelves in alphabetical order—another nod to the care and attention poured into the day.
Chelsea’s bookstore has been a part of the town since 1997. Tuplin has owned it since 2017 and currently runs it with three part-time employees. She hopes to reopen in the new space within two weeks.
One of her team members, Kaci Friss, who grew up in Chelsea, described the event with heartfelt words: “It’s a small town and people just really look out for each other… Anywhere you go, you are going to run into someone you know or who knows you, and is going to ask you about your day.” She added that the experience reminded her of “how special this community is.”
Let this story inspire us to look out for those around us—to be ready with an open heart and willing hands. May we build communities rooted in love and care, where no act is too small, and every person is valued.
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