The Dollar General Literacy Foundation provides funding to support literacy and education initiatives for organizations and schools across the nation that are within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store. Back in March, Alcove Trails Principal Rebecca Whipkey wrote the Dollar General Youth Literacy grant proposal that she titled “Operation Library Build Up”, hoping to receive money that would help fill their new library with more books.

More specifically, her goal was to extend the Social Studies teachers’ lessons in the classroom by providing high interest books that would enrich the learning experience while also engaging the students.

“Historical graphic novels, biographies of lesser-known figures, and historical fiction are ways to bring the stories of the past to life for our present-minded middle schoolers. Providing a library full of engaging, relatable books for our students is our top priority as we opened a new school,” said Whipkey.

Much to her surprise, Whipkey received a notification during the first week of school that her grant was being awarded and the campus would receive $4,000 to buy books.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to help build up our library so that our students have a wide variety of books to read for both pleasure and educational purposes,” said Whipkey. “It also helps support our teachers in giving them the tools they need to help engage our learners.”

Alcove Trails is one of about 50 organizations, nonprofits, and school districts to receive a 2023 Youth Literacy Grant through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.