GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn -- A Twin Cities girl is nearing an important milestone in her quest to collect one million books for needy children.
"I want to give them the choice to be able to read," said Maria Keller, the founder of the charity group Read Indeed.
One girl, one million books
Maria has always been an avid reader. She decided to collect the million books after her mom said some kids don't have even one.
"I thought that that was kind of unfair that some kids get to have books and some kids don't," Maria said.
"At first she said, 'one million books' and I gasped," said Maura Keller, Maria's mom. "Then she said, 'by the time I'm 18."
She might not need all that time. Maria started when she was 8 and is on course to be done well before her 18th birthday.
Maria says Read Indeed has already counted 465,000 books.
Join the book drive
You can join M&I Bank and KARE11 in helping Maria and Read Indeed.
Please bring your new or gently used childrens' books to any M&I Bank Twin Cities, Hudson or Prescott location through the end of July. Donate 25 and you may also qualify for a free pass to Waterpark of America (while supplies last).
Books collected will be shared with many organizations in Minnesota, in hopes of getting books into the hands of kids.
For more information, please visit M&I Bank Read Indeed Book Drive
Cash donations to benefit Read Indeed will also be accepted.
(Copyright 2011 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)