Turn the Page Book Drive: Let’s Create Little Bookworms!

Have you heard about the Turn the Page Book Drive going on at your neighborhood Food Town? This partnership with our friends over at KHOU is an effort to help get books in the hands of Houston-area kids, and to foster a life-long love of reading. (The best part? It’s something you, the Food Town shopper, can get in on, too!) Read on to learn the ins and outs of our book drive, which is going on now!

What is the Turn the Page Literacy Initiative?
As we mentioned above, this is something the folks at KHOU put on each year, and the goal is to provide kiddos access to books outside of school. In 2019, the drive brought in an incredible 23,000 books — and this year, with Food Town’s help, they’re hoping to up that number to 25,000! Visit the KHOU website for more information about the initiative.

Why is Food Town Involved in the Book Drive?
You know your Food Town is big on giving back to our Houston-area neighbors. And we don’t just mean the grownups! When we came across some startling facts about little ones’ development, we knew we wanted to do something to help. (Experts say many of today’s kids aren’t where they should be, reading-wise, by fourth grade — but that access to printed reading materials can make a big difference.) Pair that with the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has left so many little ones more isolated than usual, and we knew we had to step in. Once we found out about this opportunity with KHOU, everything fell into place!

How Can I Donate to the Turn the Page Book Drive?
That’s the easy part, friends! We’re accepting new and gently used books at all 30 Houston-area Food Town locations. Just drop by your neighborhood store anytime between April 12 and 30 and look for the large donation boxes located at the front of the store. There’s no need to fill anything out or look for a store associate! Drop your books, take care of a bit of grocery shopping and enjoy a sense of accomplishment, knowing you’re making a difference to kids in need. We’ll deliver the books directly to the Books Between Kids warehouse!

There are other ways to make a difference, too. Visit the KHOU website to learn how you can donate funds to the effort, take part in the Turn the Page virtual telethon and even enjoy readings on Facebook Live! (Fun Fact: During KHOU’s April 29 virtual telethon, Food Town will be matching donations between 5 and 6 p.m. — up to $7,500!)

That goal of gathering 25,000 books might seem like a lot, but with help from Food Town’s incredible friends and customers, we know it’s within reach. Want to learn more about our book drive, and why your neighborhood grocery wanted to get involved? Our team recently had the chance to talk with KHOU’s Deborah Duncan about this important effort. Click here to access the segment — and then gather up those new and gently used books. Thanks in advance for making a difference to local kids!