Funds from the grant will be applied to help Charlotte-based Promising Pages with its “Books on Break” program to give children new books to read. In an average year, Promising Pages distributes more than 300,000 books to nearly 64,000 children in book deserts around Charlotte.

“It’s one book for every 300 children in low-income neighborhoods,” Promising Pages’ Executive Director Kelly Cates told WCNC-TV. “Imagine having to share one book with 299 of your closest neighbors. It’s really why we are having such a hard time with kids being able to learn how to read on grade level by third grade. It’s a problem.”

While the organization has worked hard since 2011 to combat issues with child literacy with community help, this year has proven challenging for volunteers due to Hurricane Helene. According to Cates, Promising Pages sent a van full of books to help a charter school in western North Carolina that lost its library during the flooding from Helene in October. This outreach left a shortage of books for distribution in the Charlotte area.

In addition to monetary donations to support Promising Pages, Cates said her organization also needs volunteers who help clean and repair books and sort donations. Volunteer support allows Promising Pages to more efficiently get books in children’s hands.

“When the community is generous with us,” Cates explained, “we can be generous with children, families, and the nonprofits that we support with free books.”

To donate, volunteer, and learn more, visit the Promising Pages website.