I was excited to learn recently that JetBlue’s Soar With Reading program is installing book vending machines in Detroit to give kids free books. How amazing is that?!
The locations selected for the vending machines were determined to be book deserts in Detroit, areas where children and their families have little to no access to purchase age-appropriate children’s books.
In fact, the Hamtramck area of Detroit was found to only have one book for every 42 children.
The book vending machines will allow children and their parents to take home as many books as they like throughout the summer. Titles will be refreshed every two weeks.
Just this past week, the program launched and the vending machines were unveiled. Detroit outfielder, Justin Upton and actress, Victoria Justice, were both there to celebrate, to read to children, and to help kids use the machines.
Bryan Mitchell/AP Images for JetBlue
Since its Soar With Reading program’s inception, JetBlue and their partners have donated over $1,750,000 worth of books to kids in need. This year’s donation of 100,000 books is in partnership with Random House Children’s Books.
You can learn more about the Soar With Reading program here and vote for which city JetBlue should donate books to next year.
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What a great idea!! Why don’t big corporations come up with more of these ideas to better help the future of our kids.
This is a very cool project! It’s a wonderful way to keep kids interested in reading through the summer! :)
This is a very worthy project. First book vending machine I have ever seen.
What a great idea for those that do not live near a library or don’t have access to affordable books. In our area little libraries are popping up and this another way to help improve literacy in our country.
I had this idea a while ago…we have one in our mobile home park. WE exchange our books or you can take one if you don’t have one to exchange. It works out great for us because I homeschool and have tons of books. I don’t keep books after they are read or we would have no space at all. So I mostly donate books but sometimes find one we can use presently.
WE use an old newspaper vending machine.
What an amazing program! I would love to have something like this in our area.
This is such a wonderful idea! I love that it helps connect kids to reading.
Wow what an interesting idea for a vending machine. Reading is so important for what you read and learn, but also the act of reading stimulates the mind.
Wow what a great program! Books can definitely be expensive so that’s wonderful to help those that can’t afford them.
What a great idea to get books to kids who need them. I love that they are free to them.
I really love this idea! I hope something like this reaches other areas across the country as well.
What a fantastic idea! I’m anxious to see if this pops up in my hometown.
What a great idea, it will be interesting to see how far this can go!
This is super neat! They need these everywhere!!
I love this idea! Anything that gets kids into reading is fantastic. I hope other states do this as well.