New Members
Celebrating 10 years of promoting childhood literacy, nonprofit expands its impact while preparing to meet growing demand in 2027.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MASSACHUSETTS – Up With Books is celebrating another successful year of its Every Summer Has a Story reading program, providing backpacks filled with new books to 3,438 children from low-income households across Massachusetts during the summer of 2026.
Each backpack contained eight to ten new, age-appropriate books designed to encourage reading, strengthen literacy skills, and help prevent the learning loss often experienced by children during summer vacation.
Access to books at home plays a critical role in helping children maintain and build their reading skills, particularly among families facing financial challenges. Through the generosity of donors, volunteers, and community partners, Up With Books is helping bridge that gap, one backpack at a time.
As the organization celebrates its 10th anniversary, demand for its programs continues to grow. For the first time, Up With Books has established a waiting list of schools and organizations hoping to participate in next summer's program.
Students Make a Difference Through Pages With Purpose
Community support has been instrumental in the organization's success, including an impressive student-led initiative launched by two King Philip Regional High School juniors.
Liliana Lopes and Mary Musial created Pages With Purpose, a project dedicated to supporting Up With Books through book drives, community outreach, and literacy awareness.
Since launching their initiative, the students have collected 4,085 donated books as of October 2026, including more than 25 boxes contributed by local elementary schools. The books help stock distribution tables at local food pantries, providing children and families with access to reading materials.
The students have also participated in Norfolk Community Day, Wrentham Community Day, and Gilly's House Summer Fest, engaging children through bookmark-making activities and sharing information about the importance of childhood literacy.
Additional book drives, children's reading events, and educational presentations are planned. Their efforts can be followed on Instagram at @kp.pageswithpurpose.
Community Invited to Support Literacy Initiatives
To help meet growing demand, Up With Books is hosting its annual online silent auction from November 1 through November 21, 2026. The auction features unique experiences, sports memorabilia, gift cards, entertainment packages, and more, with proceeds supporting the organization's mission of providing books to economically disadvantaged children.
The organization will also partner with J.McLaughlin, located at 14 Walden Street in Concord, for a special shopping event on Saturday, November 28, from noon to 4 p.m. During the event, J.McLaughlin will donate 10% of sales to Up With Books. Community members are also encouraged to stop by and donate new or gently used books.
Individuals, businesses, schools, and community organizations can further support Up With Books through its Fund a Need initiative. A $25 donation provides one child with a backpack of books, while larger contributions can support entire classrooms or grade levels.
Community book drives are also encouraged, offering schools, businesses, and individuals an opportunity to help expand access to books while promoting volunteerism and community engagement.
Celebrating a Decade of Making a Difference
Throughout 2026, Up With Books has been celebrating its 10th anniversary, recognizing a decade of helping children discover the joy of reading. The organization has marked the milestone through special book giveaways and community engagement activities.
With growing demand for its programs, Up With Books remains focused on expanding its reach and ensuring that more children have access to books and the opportunities that reading provides.
For more information about Up With Books, its programs, upcoming events, or ways to support its mission, visit the organization's website.
About Up With Books
Up With Books is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving childhood literacy by providing books to children from economically disadvantaged households. Through its Every Summer Has a Story program, community book drives, food pantry distributions, and partnerships, the organization works to increase access to books, prevent summer learning loss, and inspire a lifelong love of reading.
