Luna raises more than £900 for books, gives them to the food bank

A four-year-old has delivered more than £900 worth of books to Kingsbridge Food Bank after smashing her sponsored reading challenge. 

Luna Browne, 4, from Woolston, and her mum Charlotte Titterton, got involved with the ‘Ready Steady Read’ challenge for World Book Day, organised by local Independent Usbourne Organiser Leah Cole. 

Luna had to complete 15 reading-related challenges to get sponsorship from her friends and family, such as ‘read to someone older than you’, ‘read to your pet’, ‘read in an unusual place’ and ‘read outside’. 

Luna reading in her 'unusual place' - the bath

The challenge was designed for children to gain their sponsorship and then use it to buy books to add to their personal library, but Luna decided that she had enough books herself and wanted to “share her love of reading” with children who had less. 

As her sponsorship grew, Charlotte began sharing Luna’s challenges on social media and in the end she raised £695, which was topped up by Leah and Usbourne to just over £900, which they could then use to buy hundreds of books to give to Kingsbridge Food Bank. 

Gerrie Messer, Kingsbridge Food Bank organiser, Charlotte Titterton, Luna Browne and volunteer co-ordinator Jackie Visser

“I went through the books and tried to get a real range of ages”, said Charlotte, “Usbourne bundles were helpful too as they were collections of 40 books in individual libraries. I think we ended up with about 450 books.”

Gerrie Messer, Kingsbridge Food Bank organiser, explained that they currently looking after around 150 children, of both primary and secondary school ages. She said: "Luna is a super awesome human being and was desperate to share her love of reading with all of our FoodBank Children. What she has done for them is amazing and we'll gladly deliver them, on her behalf, in time for the Easter Holidays."

Kingsbridge Library also found out about Luna’s generosity and added another bundle of books to the collection. 

Luna went to deliver the books to the food bank on Saturday morning and also did volunteer shift helping unload a big delivery and pack up some grocery packages. She has been dubbed “Luna the loo roll lady” by the food bank team. 

Luna in her new position as 'loo roll lady' as she helps unload a food bank delivery

When asked if she had a message to the children who were going to get her donated books, Luna said: “Do you like reading as much as I do? I hope you like the books!”

You can contact Kingsbridge Food Bank by visiting their website or calling 07593 881633

Main image: Luna and her haul of books to be donated to Kingsbridge Food Bank.