Award-winning children’s author John Coy reads to children from Twin City schools.

Recently, First Book joined the Nash Finch Company in an exciting event at the Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota to celebrate the launch of our new partnership.

Nash Finch is a Fortune 500 company based out of Minneapolis and is one of the leading food distribution companies in the United States. Through their new educational program, Feeding Imagination, they are funding the distribution of 10,000 books from the First Book Marketplace to kids in need in the Twin Cities.

Representatives from nearly all of the groups receiving books came to the event, along with more than 30 elementary school kids. The event was kicked off by Brian Numainville, the Chairman of the NFC Foundation, Nash Finch’s charitable giving arm, followed by an address from Alec Covington, Nash Finch’s CEO.

St. Paul’s Mayor, Chris Coleman, greeted the crowd and said a few words and was then followed by several local celebrities who served as guest readers. They included the award-winning children’s author John Coy (author of Vroomaloom Zoom), respected WCCO-Radio Food Editor Sue Zelickson, and basketball star Shona Thorburn of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx! Each of our celebrity guests, along with Gail Covington, Alec’s wife, led small group readings with the kids of Mr. Coy’s latest book, Around the World. Each of the children got a gift bag that included a copy of the book that was theirs to keep, and were they ever thrilled!

After the story time, the kids got to take advantage of all that the Children’s Museum had to offer and spent several hours exploring the exhibits and activities. It was a wonderful day for everyone, and hopefully one we can repeat in the future!

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman speaks to guests at the Minnesota Children’s Museum.