Programs

Programs

Our innovative programs put books in the hands of children and put students on the path to success through a life-long love of reading.

Community Partner Program

Promising Pages is the leading distributor of donated children’s books in the Charlotte area. We make it easy and affordable for groups working with under-resourced children to get books at no cost.

Books are distributed through more than 250 community partners, serving children and individuals in our area.
1.7 million+ books distributed to tens of thousands of children since 2012.
Interested in becoming a Community Partner? Read through our Frequently Asked Questions to see if your organization qualifies.

Community Partner Program

Promising Pages is the leading distributor of donated children’s books in the Charlotte area. We make it easy and affordable for groups working with under-resourced children to get books at no cost.

Books are distributed through more than 250+ community partners, serving children and individuals in our area.
1.7 million+ books distributed to tens of thousands of children since 2012.
Interested in becoming a Community Partner? Read through our Frequently Asked Questions to see if your organization qualifies.

Books on Break

Books on Break is a free program designed to provide summer reading books to children from Title I or under-resourced area schools. Each spring Promising Pages hosts free book fairs for students in grades PreK through 5th grade and each student chooses 5 books to take home and read over the summer months. This program is targeted at reducing the “summer slide” children experience during the extended summer break.

For sponsorship and exclusive volunteer opportunities contact Executive Director, Kelly Cates

Get the latest: Photos, research, & impact!

Feed the Body, Feed the Mind

Similar to the book desert, there are an estimated 48,000 children who live with food insecurity. A parent shouldn’t have to choose between nourishing their child’s body and nourishing their child’s brain. Initially started as a project with the Dilworth SouthEnd Rotary Club, the Feed the Body, Feed the Mind program partners with local food banks and pantries to provide books alongside groceries and meals. We believe healthy food and books in the home are critical to a child’s development, and this program allows us to do our part in helping feed both the body and the mind.

Become Our Next Food Pantry Partner

Feed the Body, Feed the Mind

Similar to the book desert, there are an estimated 48,000 children who live with food insecurity. A parent shouldn’t have to choose between nourishing their child’s body and nourishing their child’s brain. Initially started as a project with the Dilworth SouthEnd Rotary Club, the Feed the Body, Feed the Mind program partners with local food banks and pantries to provide books alongside groceries and meals. We believe healthy food and books in the home are critical to a child’s development, and this program allows us to do our part in helping feed both the body and the mind.

Become Our Next Food Pantry Partner

Bookseed

Our Bookseed Program works with organizations serving families in affordable housing communities and provides home libraries to children from birth to fifth grade. Each child self-selects 25 books to seed their home libraries. In addition, each community receives a Reading Resource Center where children and families can select free books year-round. Reading Resource Centers also connect parents to literacy partners, programs, & parent education opportunities. Bookseed gives families the tools to help their children grow as readers, the books for nightly bedtime stories, and the opportunity to raise children in a book-rich environment because readers are not born, they are grown.

Bookseed

Our Bookseed Program works with organizations serving families in affordable housing communities and provides home libraries to children from birth to fifth grade. Each child self-selects 25 books to seed their home libraries. In addition, each community receives a Reading Resource Center where children and families can select free books year-round. Reading Resource Centers also connect parents to literacy partners, programs, & parent education opportunities. Bookseed gives families the tools to help their children grow as readers, the books for nightly bedtime stories, and the opportunity to raise children in a book-rich environment because readers are not born, they are grown.

Book Access Network

Free Little Libraries – Our (not so little) freestanding libraries are built by volunteers and placed in neighborhoods with little to no access to books. Book desert communities identify a library steward and we help them keep it filled with books for the whole family, year round.

Reading Resource Centers – More than just a bookshelf, our Reading Resource Centers (RRC) connect families to our partner’s literacy programming, resources, & education opportunities, and a never ending source of free books for the whole family. RRC bookshelves are also built by volunteers (or donated) and are located in affordable housing community centers and in community partner’s program spaces.

Diverse Book Infusion

Every child deserves to see themselves in the stories they read, yet many of our students lack access to books that reflect their realities and aspirations. Representation in books can significantly enhance children’s self-esteem and foster empathy by allowing them to connect with diverse perspectives. As the primary provider of free books for schools and student-serving organizations, we consistently strive to offer more inclusive and diverse books to the children and organizations we serve. With your support, we can cultivate reading environments where every child feels seen, heard, and inspired. You can help by:

- Donate to our Diverse Book Fund
- Purchase books from our Diverse Book Wishlist at a participating local or online bookseller. Wishlist Booksellers
- You can ship books directly to us using our online booksellers or donate locally by visiting one of our book drop-off locations.