By Zanub Saeed
Applebee's restaurants in upstate New York and Connecticut, as part of T.L. Cannon Companies, will team up with The Salvation Army to start up the "Summer Reading Challenge" initiative, urging children to read more this summer.
Children who donate a new book to The Salvation Army at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar restaurants in New York and Connecticut will receive a bookmark and special Applebee's Bookworm Club card, which will get them a free Oreo Cookie sundae, said a press release issued by T.L. Cannon Companies on Monday. If children ages 10 and under read and record 10 books on their Bookworm Club, they'll be eligible to receive a free kid's meal. The campaign will run from this July through August, noted the press release.
"At Applebee's, we view reading as fundamental for success," Stephanie Griffin, director of marketing and public relations, T.L. Cannon Companies, said for the press release. "Through this book drive and our Bookworm Club Reading Program we hope to have kids embrace summer reading and share their love of books with those who are less fortunate."
Those Applebee's stores taking part are located, as listed in the press release, at: Williamsville, Niagara Falls, Amherst, Lockport, North Buffalo, Depew, Blasdell, Lakewood, Cheektowaga, Dunkirk, Olean, West Seneca, Gates, Pittsford, Irondequoit, Greece, Fairport, Webster, Batavia, Canandaigua, Geneseo, Hornell, Henrietta, DeWitt, North Syracuse, Liverpool, Watertown, Auburn, Camillus; Elmira, Vestal, Ithaca, Cortland, Painted Post, Binghamton, Johnstown, Rome, New Hartford, Oneonta, Herkimer, Utica, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Middletown, Brewster, Kingston, Queensbury, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Saratoga Springs, Glenmont, Latham and Hudson in New York State; and Plainville, Groton, Torrington, Orange, Willimantic, and Manchester in Connecticut.
"Making books more accessible to individuals in our neighborhoods will help improve community literacy," Major Thomas Applin of The Salvation Army was quoted as stating for the press release. "Through this partnership with Applebee's, we're hoping to collect as many books as our collection barrels can hold. Our goal is simple-to make book ownership a reality for underprivileged children and adults so they learn to read, continue reading, and open their minds to a world of learning possibilities."
