Jet Blue's Vending Machines Will Be Welcomed At Any School

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Photo Credit: JetBlue

While vending machines have a bad reputation generally, they are particularly frowned upon in schools. That's because most are filled with foods that are deemed unhealthy for both kids and adults. However, no one will have any objection to Jet Blue's vending machines. That's because they dispense free books!

The U.S. airline's pilot program was launched in early July in Washington D.C.' s historic Anacostia neighborhood. It was picked because Jet Blue's research indicated that kids in the area had access to only one age appropriate book for every 830 children. To change the dire ratio the company has installed three vending machines in locations that are widely frequented by the locals - a Safeway grocery store, a Salvation Army and a neighborhood church.

Photo Credit: JetBlue

The machines are filled with 12 age appropriate books for children 0-14. A total of 42 titles are being offered, and the selection is rotated every two weeks. Kids can help themselves to as many books as they wish and return for more as many times as they desire. The best part? Unlike a library, the books are theirs to keep.

Jet Blue and their partners Random House Children's Books and Magic TreeHouse author Mary Pope Osborne, say they are committed to giving away 100,000 books. As of August 25, 16,000 had been claimed. The company now plans to extend its vending machine program to impoverished neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston and New York City.

Photo Credit: JetBlue

Though the book vending machines are new, this is not the first time Jet Blue and their partners have given away books. Since 2011, the company's "Soar with Reading" program has donated over $1,250,000 USD worth of books to kids in need!

Resources: usnews.com, washingtonpost.com,soarwithreading,com

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255 Comments
  • CUTE COOLabout 9 years
    I'M LOOKING FOR A ARTICLE4 A PROJECT AND I AM TOTALLY DOING THIS
    • ANGLICabout 9 years
      love this
      • CUTE COOL about 9 years
        LOVE THIS i wish i had one
        • ANGLICabout 9 years
          THIS COOL I WANT ONE 2
          • vernonabout 9 years
            I think this was a good story
            • Kymariabout 9 years
              It is so thoutful that people are helping children get books and read
              • kjbooth04
                kjbooth04about 9 years
                I read about a book vending machine that has 42 titles from ages 0-14 that was made by blue-jet
                • Asiyaabout 9 years
                  The jet people want put the vending machines because they thought kids should read every day also they had lots of books for the children
                  • Bryleeabout 9 years
                    thats a great idea to put books in the vending machine
                    • esclermont04
                      esclermont04about 9 years
                      That's cool