JetBlue has partnered with Little Free Library to bring its annual Soar with Reading initiative to Puerto Rico for the first time, aiming to increase access to books for all ages across the island.
The airline, which is Puerto Rico’s largest carrier, has placed seven book-sharing boxes in communities across Aguadilla, Ponce and San Juan as part of its fourteenth annual literacy program.
Icema Gibbs, vice president of CSR and DEI at JetBlue, highlighted the importance of the initiative.
“We are excited to bring our beloved Soar with Reading program to the island for the first time, helping connect more youth with the joys of reading and imagination,” Ms Gibbs said.
The book-sharing boxes, housed in high-traffic community centres, offer a variety of titles in both English and Spanish. Visitors can take and leave books free of charge, promoting community engagement with literature.
Greig Metzger, Little Free Library Executive Director, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership.
“It is an honour to be working with JetBlue in Puerto Rico to expand book access in partnership with their Soar with Reading program,” Mr Metzger said.
Since 2015, JetBlue’s Soar with Reading initiative has addressed the issue of book availability in underserved communities. To date, the program has donated more than $4 million worth of books to children in need.
The initiative coincides with JetBlue’s efforts to increase connectivity to and from Puerto Rico. The airline recently introduced its Mint premium service between New York and San Juan and announced plans to apply for a second daily nonstop flight between Washington D.C. and San Juan.
JetBlue also plans to open a new pilot and flight attendant crew base in San Juan, creating more than 400 local jobs by 2025. The airline currently employs over 370 crew members across Puerto Rico.
The Soar with Reading program is part of JetBlue For Good, the airline’s corporate social responsibility initiative focusing on community service and youth/education initiatives.
