Marietta Community Foundation, UPS Store join to promote literacy
Books are given to local children, along with a notebook and pencils at a local summer camp. (Photo Provided)
Teachers hand out packages to children of books and school supplies. (Photo Provided)
Books are given to local children, along with a notebook and pencils at a local summer camp. (Photo Provided)
Teachers hand out packages to children of books and school supplies. (Photo Provided)
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From Staff Reports
While the Marietta Community Foundation helps to promote literacy through being an affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program, a new partnership with The UPS Store Marietta has extended reach beyond children aged 0-5 to benefit school-age children as well.
Customers of The UPS Store in Marietta can include a donation to the Toys for Tots Literacy Program during checkout. These funds purchased more than 1,570 books which Marietta Community Foundation packaged with a notebook and pencils for children attending three local summer camps.
"The members of our community so graciously donated these funds throughout the holiday season while making purchases at The UPS Store. I'm excited to be able to keep those donations right here at home," said Erin Baker, franchise owner of The UPS Store Marietta. "The UPS Store Inc. offers its individual store owners the opportunity to submit an organization we feel would make the greatest impact and use of the books. I immediately thought of MCF."
Through The UPS Store's generosity, Marietta Community Foundation was able to create 269 packages of five to six books, a notebook and pencils for every child attending Ely Chapman's Sensational Summer Camp, YMCA's Camp Caterpillar and Camp W.I.L.D. and the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County's summer camp.
"As a new Foundation employee, I'm really enjoying seeing how we can help turn something good into something great," said Courtney Wentz, communications and program services director of Marietta Community Foundation. "The UPS Store could've easily donated the books somewhere on their own, but they recognized that we know where the contribution is needed most, and the value that could be added by working with us."
Baker said this exchange will not be a one-time event.
"Every year, The UPS Stores across the country take donations for the Toys for Tots Literacy Program and have the capability to reinvest those donations in their own communities. The UPS Store in Marietta will be doing the same again this holiday," she said. "If you stop in the store, you can make a donation knowing that in the spring it will be turned into more books given to Marietta Community Foundation."