The UPS Store and Marine Toys for Tots Foundation encourage childhood literacy

Donations collected locally provide books to children at Genesis House 

COOKEVILLE – In an effort to help deliver the gift of reading to less fortunate children in the United 

States, The UPS Store® located in Cookeville is supporting the Toys for Tots Literacy Program.   

This year marks the 13th anniversary of The UPS Store Toys for Tots Literacy Program, launched in 2008 with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Together, UPS® and The UPS Store network have collected nearly $7.3 million and distributed more than 44 million books to the most economically disadvantaged children across the nation.  

The UPS Store locations collect donations year-round to benefit thToys for Tots Literacy Program, with one hundred percent of the proceeds going to support local children and literacy programs. Every dollar helps put a book in the hands of a child in need, and thanks to the generosity of the Upper Cumberland community, The UPS Store in Cookeville will be delivering $2,000 worth of books to local children at Genesis House (a local shelter for battered and abused women and children) on Tuesday, May 18 at 2:00 PM. This will create a library of over 1200 BRAND-NEW books to the Genesis House’s library. 

The UPS Store invites you to participate in this ceremony on Tuesday, May 18 at 2 p.m. at The UPS Store located at 541 South Willow Ave. in Cookeville. 

“The community’s participation in the Toys for Tots Literacy Program is a key component to the success of this promotion,” said The UPS Store franchisee Matt Hall. “This program provides us the unique opportunity to work with a nationally-recognized organization yet make an impact in our community, which is only possible because of thoughtful contributions from the people in the Upper Cumberland.” 

According to Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy,  children who grow up in homes where books are plentiful go further in school than those who don’t. On average, children in economically depressed communities have 0-2 age-appropriate books in their homes, and half of them start first grade up to 2 years behind their peers. The vast majority of children who start behind, stay behind, leading to an increase in our nation’s dropout rate among low-income and minority students. Children from traditionally low-education families can do as well as children from high-education families if they have access to books at home. The Toys for Tots Literacy Program continues to not only deliver the gift of reading, but also the promise of a bright future. 

For additional information, visit theupsstore.com/literacy or call 931-400-0400.  

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