Inspired by Dolly Parton’s legacy of putting books into the hands of children, I started thinking about how I could carry that same spirit into my own community. That inspiration became Keep Reading—a September book drive focused on middle school readers.
THE GOAL IS SIMPLE.
Give kids books they can call their own.
Shop our Amazon Wishlist and donate a book directly to the drive. Each book collected will be given to a middle school student to choose, read, and keep.
With books starting around $7, even one can make an impact.
How to Submit
-
Complete the form below and type your letter directly into the Letter Submission section.
-
If you've written your letter in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or saved it as a PDF, you may upload your file using the Letter Upload field.
Please submit only one letter per form. If you'd like to submit additional letters, simply complete the form again.
-
Are you local to Nashville and prefer to write by hand? We'd love to receive it.
If you'd like to submit a handwritten letter, select this option on the form and complete your contact information. I'll reach out to coordinate a convenient drop-off or meet-up to collect your letter.
Please keep your letter to approximately one page and follow the same submission guidelines listed above.
This option is intended for those who prefer writing by hand, including community members who may not be comfortable submitting their letter online.
Submission Details
What do you wish someone had told you when you were in middle school?
Tell a student about a time you wanted to quit but kept going.
What does "Keep Shooting" mean to you?
Share words of encouragement with a student who may be struggling or doubting themselves.
Submission Prompts
Keep your letter to approximately one page.
Write with middle school students (ages 11–14) in mind.
To ensure every student feels included, please avoid references to religion or specific religious beliefs.
Focus on encouragement, hope, resilience, kindness, and perseverance.
Do not include phone numbers, email addresses, social media handles, mailing addresses, or any other personal contact information.
You may sign your letter with your first name only or submit it anonymously.
To preserve the heart of this initiative, every letter will be reviewed before distribution to ensure it is encouraging, age-appropriate, and aligned with the mission of this initiative.
Submission Guidelines
By submitting your letter, you give KR Shot It permission to print and distribute it as part of the Letters to the Next Generation initiative.
Submission Consent
Letter Submission Form
Thank you for supporting our future letters! To submit a letter please click the button below. If you have any questions, please reach out via email at khay@krshotit.com.