KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (SUBMITTED) -- Story time is one of the most precious times a parent and child can spend together. In those moments, children learn important values from role models - whether that role model is on the page or sitting right beside them.

Girl Scouts of all ages know reading is fundamental to learning. With the public’s help, Girl Scouts annually put more than 10,000 books into the hands of children who can’t afford their own through the “Reading Rocks!” book drive.

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, spokesperson for Reading Rocks, says, “Join the Girl Scouts this year to promote a lifetime love of reading. Whether you’re just discovering Dr. Seuss’s mischievous hat-wearing cat like my grandkids or delving into a biography of Teddy Roosevelt like I am, reading is fun. It broadens the mind and enriches the soul.”

Join Girl Scouts at a collection celebration Saturday, December 5 at Carpe Librum Booksellers, 5113 Kingston Pike, Knoxville from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Help Girl Scouts fill a Humvee with books for the U.S. Marines to distribute to the children of East Tennessee through their Toys for Tots program. You’ll also enjoy storytelling, sing-a-longs and refreshments. All Girl Scouts will receive a 20 percent discount on select merchandise from Carpe Librum Booksellers during the celebration.

You may also drop off books now through the celebration at Carpe Librum Booksellers or the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians Service Center, 1567 Downtown West Blvd., Knoxville.

“We know parents are making tough decisions about how to spend money right now,” says the council's Lise Bender. “That's where Girl Scouts step up to help. Many girls donate new copies of the books they love and cherish because they want other children to experience the joy of reading.”

About the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians…

The Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians is based in Knoxville, Tennessee and has more than 24,000 members in 46 counties stretching from Southwest Virginia to Northern Georgia.

Girl Scouts of the USA is the world’s largest organization dedicated to helping all girls everywhere build character and gain skills for success. Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scouts’ membership has grown from 18 members in Savannah, Georgia, to nearly four million members throughout the United States, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and in more than 80 countries through USA Girl Scouts Overseas.

(This information was submitted by The Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians.)