Nonprofit group donates money to help literacy

The Book Bag, a nonprofit community bookstore, recently announced it will donate $1,000 to the Conejo Valley Adult Literacy Program.

The donation is a result of the organization's second anniversary sale where customers purchased more than 1,200 books in two days.

According to Irene Freeman, literacy coordinator for the program, the funds will be used to augment the resources the program's teachers draw from to help their students become successful, literate members of the community.

Since its opening in 2004, The Book Bag has sold nearly 100,000 books.

Founders and directors Melissa Cook and Jeanne Johnson opened the store to improve literacy in the community.

They have extended their book inventory to local preschools, schools, hospitals, jails and libraries, making reading affordable and accessible to all residents.