Ever donated your spare change to the cash cubes at the checkouts at your local Dollar General?

If so, you’ve helped someone out there gain a special gift: the gift of reading.

Those quarters, nickels and dimes go to the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, which supports schools, libraries, and literacy organizations in the communities Dollar General calls home through on-going grant programs.

This November, the DGLF awarded grants totally $370,000 to 370 schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations in Alabama that promote literacy.

Here in Butler County, grants went to Greenville Elementary School, Greenville Middle School, Greenville High School, Greenville-Butler County Public Library, Butler County Area Vocational School and W.O. Parmer Elementary School.

In 2008, Dollar General has awarded more than $500,000 in grants to organizations in Alabama.

J.L. Turner, co-founder of Dollar General was able to overcome tremendous odds, including a third-grade education, to build his company.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation was established in 1993 to improve the functional literacy of adults by providing grants to nonprofit organizations dedicated to the advancement of literacy.

Dollar General customers support the Dollar General Literacy Foundation each time they contribute spare change into the literacy cash cube, located at the register of each store.

Customers also can pick up a brochure to find out about General Education Diploma (GED) and Learn-to-Read programs in the area, as well as English as a Second Language and volunteer tutor opportunities.

To learn more about Dollar General’s literacy initiatives and grant programs, visit www.dollargeneral.com.