We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Cook and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, what’s your definition for success?
For Book Drive for Kids, success is defined by helping children find books that spark imagination, gain knowledge, and be hopeful. The more we can make this happen, the greater our success.

What should our readers know about your business?
Book Drive for Kids began in 2017 with the belief that all children, regardless of their zip code, should have a rich knowledge base that only comes from access to great stories, and not just library books. Some of those books should belong to the child and reside in their homes. With a few hundred used books, Nicol and I offered a teacher-friend to hold a free book fair at her school where 90% of the kids were economically disadvantaged. We were blown away by the positive response from the kids! There are lots of literacy programs available for pre-school children but not many

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Nicol Klingenstein, my best friend and co-founder of Book Drive for Kids, shares the credit for bringing the idea of Book Drive for Kids to life. Without her encouragement, hard work, and willingness to walk down this path with me, Book Drive for Kids would not be touching the lives of so many children. For all who have a dream, you can’t do it alone. Find a person or group of people who will cheer you on as well as roll up their sleeves and pitch in to help when you need it.

Image Credits
Michelle Cook, Nicol Klingenstein

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.