BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — State Sen. Troy Singleton's office collected more than 4,000 children's books during a month-long book drive for National Reading Month, the senator announced.

Singleton led the drive to collect new and gently used children's books to be donated to BookSmiles, a local organization that seeks to "irrigate book deserts" by building personal libraries for kids and classrooms in need throughout the South Jersey region.

"What started out as a simple idea – to ask families to consider donating children's books that they have outgrown – blossomed into a 4,000 book bounty," Singleton said. "I am so overwhelmed by the community's response, and I am humbled to know that we played a small role in spreading literary love to children throughout our region."

Singleton also praised Book Smiles for their ongoing efforts to get books into the hands of children, and noted that he hopes to continue to work with them in the future.

"I am so thankful for the partnership we have had with Book Smiles, who have always been ready and willing to help," Singleton said. "We first worked with them during our Food Truck Friday events last summer so that as we gave out lunches in our local communities, we could also give every child a bag of books to read over the summer. We hope to continue these efforts again this summer."