As part of an initiative to bring literature to children, JetBlue and Random House Children's Books revealed book vending machines in Washington, D.C. that provide children in the Southeast neighborhood with free access to books. Washington, D.C. was chosen to launch this program after a study commissioned by JetBlue found that the Anacostia section of D.C. is a large book desert, leaving residents little or no access to purchase age-appropriate children's books.
JetBlue's book vending machines are placed in select locations in the community and allow children to receive books, free of cost. Parents can opt-in to a SMS campaign to receive reading tips, updates when new books are restocked into the vending machines and to learn about reading events throughout the summer.
The vending machines are part of JetBlue’s five-year “Soar with Reading” program that encourages children to read.
