JetBlue has just placed six vending machines across NYC’s five boroughs that will be giving out free books as part of their “Soar with Reading” initiative.
Over the last nine years, JetBlue has been sharing this initiative with the rest of the country to help with literacy and make books more available in underserved communities. This summer, however, marks the first time the program will be taking place in NYC!
These six vending machines will dole out free, age-appropriate books for children in neighborhoods that need it most. Prior to coming here, the free book vending machine saw much success over the last five years in cities like Detroit, Washington,DC, Fort Lauderdale, San Francisco, and Oakland.
There will be two in Queens and one in each other borough. According to their press release, has donated more than $3.5 million worth of books to kids in need through this program. U.S. Congressman Gregory Meeks said in a statement, “I encourage children and their families to take as many books as they want, as often as they want, throughout the summer – no strings attached – in the hopes that offering free access to books in a fun and convenient way will spark a lifelong love of reading.”
The vending machines will be restocked every two weeks with both Spanish and English options. There will also be a diverse selection that will change with every restock. Here are the locations where you can find these vending machines:
- Brooklyn: Brownsville Recreation Center | 1555 Linden Blvd. | Brooklyn, NY 11212
- Bronx: PAL, Inc. New South Bronx Center | 991 Longwood Ave | Bronx, NY 10459
- Manhattan: Riverbank State Park | 679 Riverside Drive| New York, NY 10031
- Queens: Queens Public Library – Main Branch | 89-11 Merrick Blvd | Jamaica, NY 11432
- Queens: Ocean Bay Community Cornerstone | 57-10 Beach Channel Drive | Arverne, NY 11692
- Staten Island: Faber Park | Richmond Terrace | Staten Island, NY 10302
Professor of childhood and literacy education at NYU Steinhardt, Dr. Susan B. Neuman, says:
“For kids from disadvantaged backgrounds, summer often marks the beginning of the infamous summer slide. Studies have shown that owning 25 books or more has a sizable effect on achievement, with each additional increment of books, such as 10 or more, improving achievement. This program allows children to own books and combat the knowledge loss that so often accompanies summer.”
featured image source: Business Wire
Also published on Medium.