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JetBlue’s Vending Machines Provide Free Books For Kids This Summer

Author Phil Harris
Icema Gibbs, director of corporate social responsibility at JetBlue, unveils 'Soar with Reading' free book vending machine in Houston, bringing 25,000 books to kids whose communities have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey on November 28, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images for JetBlue)

I’m a big fan of putting books into the hands of kids. Given all of the advantages we have in our country, childhood literacy rates are simply not high enough in America. According to DoSomething.org, 1 in 4 children in the U.S. grows up without learning how to read. More access to reading material could help some of those kids. That’s why I love what JetBlue has been doing over the past few years with their free book vending machines.

Related: Kansas Airport Has A Short Story Dispenser

Every summer since 2015, the airline has picked a different city to place the vending machines that dispense free books as part of their “Soar With Reading” initiative. The program has installed book vending machines in New York City, Detroit, San Francisco, Oakland, Washington DC, and Fort Lauderdale in past years. In 2017, the machines also went to Houston to serve kids impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Last year, the machines were in Newark, New Jersey. This summer, they can be found at two community centers in Las Vegas, Nevada, reports KTNV.

How Does It Work?

The vending machines allow kids up to 14-years-old to get free books, which are available until August 6th or while stocks last. The locations are carefully chosen in collaboration with local leaders, educators, and organizations. They try to place them in high-traffic areas frequently visited by children and families, especially during the summer months when kids are out of school.

According to JetBlue, their approach to focusing on one city each year has yielded more of an impact than spreading the machines around the country. Cities chosen for the vending machines are usually JetBlue destinations that suffer from “book deserts,” or high poverty areas with limited children’s books. The books they choose for the machines are a diverse range, selected with help from publishing partners to ensure they fit the vending machines and are age-appropriate.

What Can We Do Locally?

JetBlue flies into and out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Maybe kids in our area will get to take advantage of the free book vending machines someday. In the meantime, there are other ways to make sure children have access to books. Community and business organizations can continue to organize book drives. For example, Heist Brewery and Promising Pages teamed up for Booktoberfest last fall. You can read more about that here.

Phil Harris is 50% of "Phil & Mel in the Afternoon" on K104.7. He has been with the station since 2013 and on the air in Charlotte since 2000. Before coming to the Queen City, Phil worked for radio stations in Pittsburgh, Austin, and Seattle. In addition to the weekly "Throwback Threesome" music video feature, Phil writes about things that matter to Charlotte sports fans and pet owners. He happens to be both.

Which Airline Offers The Best In-Flight Economy Experience?

Air travel is back and better than ever. With many Americans taking to the skies to travel Upgraded Points wanted to find out which airline offers the best in-flight experience. The number of passengers traveling will only continue to grow, and with staffing issues and canceled flights dominating headlines, a great travel experience has never been more important. Living in Charlotte I’ve tended to fly mainly American or US Air when they were separate entities. But just this year I’ve branched out looking for the best deal to reach my destination. It is interesting to compare the experience of different options. In many cases it’s a give-and-take situation, one airline may offer better boarding perhaps but another provides free wifi. It all comes down to preference and what’s important to the flier. Unless of course, you can spring for first class. I, however, cannot. Though as long as I get there on time and safely that’s all that truly matters.

So, you’re flying economy. Which airline is going to give you the best in-flight experience? Upgraded Points ranked the biggest airlines in the United States across 6 metrics then came up with a total score to rank them. The list features 11 airlines with domestic flights in the US ranked against the following categories:

  • Entertainment
  • Amenities
  • Comfort
  • COVID measures
  • Quality of food
  • Variety of drinks on offer

Here is where each airline ranked:

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