The supermarket chain Pingo Doce has distributed over three thousand books, along with a wooden library house to store the collection, to pediatric wings at public hospitals across the country. This initiative aims to promote literacy among children aged 2 to 12 years.
“Each delivery of ‘Reading Neighborhoods’ at hospitals is a highly significant and emotional moment. We bring together Pingo Doce store employees from the local area with healthcare professionals, and we feel this ‘small’ action truly makes a difference in the lives of hospitalized children and the pediatric teams caring for them,” explained Filipa Pimentel, Director of Sustainable Development and Local Impact at Pingo Doce, on the occasion of World Library Day, marked on Tuesday, July 1.
Regarding this initiative, the “outlook could not be more encouraging,” stated Filipa Pimentel, highlighting that “in just nine months, we have reached 36 hospitals from north to south of the country, including Madeira, delivering 106 library houses and 3,180 books.”
A book is not just paper and ink: it is a lap, a journey, it is hope
“Beyond the numbers, I emphasize again the importance of supporting the community and strengthening the closeness with the community that characterizes us,” she added, explaining that the initiative was born from the “belief that no child should be deprived of the magic of reading, believing it can be a powerful source of comfort, escape, and joy in more challenging moments.”
She further reveals that the feedback has been positive: “We receive thank-you messages explaining that we are making a difference in the daily lives of children. These testimonials remind us that a book is not just paper and ink: it is a lap, a journey, it is hope. More than delivering books, we are inspiring reading routines that can last a lifetime.”
“We wanted to recreate, even in a hospital context, a warm and stimulating environment,” concluded the director. “Being present in happy moments, but also in delicate ones, such as a child’s hospitalization, reinforces our mission to be close to Portuguese families at all times,” she emphasized.
The supermarket group asserts that promoting children’s literacy will always be a priority, and they will continue to “deliver ‘Reading Neighborhoods’ to more hospital units and, in parallel, maintain the commitment to offering quality books at affordable prices, both in our stores and at book fairs held in various parts of the country.”
“This has been a commitment from Pingo Doce to take children’s reading even further. Year after year, we have strengthened our presence at different fairs; this year alone, we have participated in six, including the Lisbon Book Fair,” emphasized Filipa Pimentel.
The director reminds that Pingo Doce also continues the Children’s Literature Award, launched in 2014 and now in its 12th edition: “This award, which has sold more than 176,000 copies of its winning works, represents our ongoing commitment to promoting a love for reading and supporting those who, like us, make children’s literature a mission.”
“Knowing that we contribute to helping to create a better society reassures us that we are on the right path and gives us reasons to continue investing in actions with a positive social impact. Ultimately, what we are building with each book is a culture of reading in children that can accompany them throughout life,” added Filipa Pimentel, the Director of Sustainable Development and Local Impact at Pingo Doce.
