Borders donates books to teen mothers, kids

LYNN-Borders Express of Swampscott continued a generous partnership with Job Options Inc. of Lynn this month, donating both money and books to the JOI Child Care Center in an effort to introduce teen mothers and their children to reading.Every year Borders Express partners with Lynn’s First Book program, a charity that collects money to give to non-profit organizations to purchase books for young parents.The Christmastime drive, which takes place at all Borders chain stores nationally, allows customers of the store to donate money or purchase books directly for non-profit organizations.This year, JOI used the funding from the drive to purchase books for teen mothers as Mother’s Day gifts. In most cases, it was the first time that the children received a book.Thanks to their success donating to First Book, Borders Express decided to partner with JOI directly in April for another fundraising drive when the Borders company announced it would hold a book drive.For three weeks, customers had the option of donating a book to the JOI organization while they were in the store that would go directly to the children in the Child Care Center.The store raised over $900 worth of books, which were donated to JOI employee and School Committee member Donna Coppola and her co-workers Friday.”We have been doing a book drive with First Book for a number of years where they collect and distribute money throughout the community, and Job Options Inc. has always come in here to spend their donation,” said store manager Rob Paleng. “A few months ago Borders did a book drive and we decided to continue with Job Options Inc. because they are always in here spending money.”