Toys for Tots Literacy Program’s Operation Turn the Page is Unlocking Futures Through Books
Triangle, Virginia, USA – August 18, 2026 – The Toys for Tots Literacy Program helps provide books and educational resources to children who might otherwise go without them. Since 2008, the Program has distributed more than 63 million books and educational resources, helping children strengthen reading skills and discover the joy of reading.
Yet the need remains significant. In low-income communities, there is only one age-appropriate book available for every 300 children. Without access to books, many students struggle to develop the literacy skills needed for academic success, and summer learning loss can make the transition back to school even more difficult. That’s why Operation Turn the Page focuses on helping children in need stay connected to learning throughout the summer and return to the classroom ready to thrive.
“A single book may seem like a small gift, but for a child impacted by summer learning loss, it can open the door to possibilities they never knew existed,” says Lieutenant General Jim Laster, U.S. Marines (Retired), President and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “When children living in low-income communities have access to books throughout the summer, they return to school more confident, engaged, and prepared to learn. When you give a book, you unlock a future.”
While Operation Turn the Page is recognized each August and September, its impact begins long before the first school bell rings. Through spring and summer book distributions, disadvantaged children across the country receive the resources they need to keep reading, learning, and growing as they prepare for a successful return to the classroom.
The impact of Operation Turn the Page is measured not only in books distributed, but in the moments that those books create.
At Freedom Trail Elementary, students received books that helped inspire a lifelong love of reading. For many, it marked the beginning of something even bigger.
“For many of our students, receiving these books means more than just reading—it’s the beginning of their first home library and a lifelong love of learning,” said a Freedom Trail Elementary teacher.
At United Elementary, the impact was felt throughout the school community as more than 400 books found their new homes with students, creating excitement that extended beyond the classroom. “With over 400 new books in the hands of our students, we’re seeing excitement, pride, and a growing love of reading both in school and at home,” staff shared.
Sometimes the impact of a single book says it all. At Entheos Academy, one book proved how powerful access to reading, and the impact of Operation Turn the Page, can be.
“One student’s face lit up with pure wonder when she found a book about baseball—proof that the right book can spark a lifelong love of reading,” said a teacher from Entheos Academy.
These stories exemplify Operation Turn the Page’s mission: ensuring disadvantaged children have access to books so they can enter the classroom with confidence and a stronger foundation for success.
As children prepare to return to school, supporters have the power to help write the next chapter of their success story. A single book can inspire a love of reading, strengthen literacy skills, and help a child start the school year ready to learn. By supporting Operation Turn the Page, donors are doing more than giving a book—they are helping disadvantaged children turn the page on summer learning loss and toward academic success and a brighter future.
Because when supporters Give a Book, they Unlock a Future.
About Toys for Tots:
Marine Toys for Tots is a National charitable program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Founded in 1947, it delivers new toys, books, and games to economically disadvantaged children across the country, and has served more than 325 million children to date. Beyond the holiday season, the Program also supports families facing hardship and other exceptional circumstances throughout the year. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense, provides fundraising and operational support for the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.
To learn more or donate, visit: https://www.toysfortots.org/programs/
Media Contact
Company Name: Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
Contact Person: Ted Silvester, Chief Revenue Officer
Email: Send Email
Phone: (703) 649-2021
City: Triangle
State: Virginia
Country: United States
Website: https://www.toysfortots.org/
