Free tacos, pizza and more motivates kids to read, managers say

Steve Olinger feels good when a free pizza leaves his restaurant, Freshieez.

Providing 2,000 free pizzas for EPL’s Summer Reading Challenge means kids are happy and reading.

“It’s the joy of seeing every kid’s face. We get a picture of them every time,” Steve says. “It’s that feel-good story everyone loves.” 

Alongside Elkhart Public Library, local businesses support the Summer Reading Challenge with rewards. 

Ranger Distribution Inc., the Summer Reading Challenge’s presenting sponsor for the fifth-straight year and businesses like Freshieez, Chick-fil-A and Taco Bell come through to incentivize kids to read.

It’s about the kids and the community, Steve says. Even if it’s a worthwhile price.

“We worked with Lisa Yoder State Farm to split those costs,” he says. “And it was well worth it, and it was fun.”

Ellie Male, owner of Elkhart’s Chick-fil-A provided around 1,500 kids’ meals last summer.  

“We need kids who love reading. That’s where my heart and my mind go,” Ellie says.  

The challenge reflects skills she sees in her workforce. Hard work, determination and consistency come to mind.

“Picking up a book and reading. Putting down the phone and tablet are skills we need out of these kids. I see the correlation there,” Ellie says. 

Local business leaders say they benefit from building community and supporting education. 

Being part of the community 

Giving back is a cycle of good for businesses, managers say. 

“It’s a circle of life type of thing,” says Jamie Tate, director of operations for Delight Restaurant Group. “If you give back to the community, they will give back to us. That allows us to employ people and gives us customers. It pays it forward.” 

Taco Bell provided 2,000 free taco coupons to summer readers.

Additionally, Jamie says Delight Group’s Taco Bell also supports the Boys and Girls Club and Junior Achievement programs locally. 

Steve says Freshieez’s commitment to the community was a founding principle. 

“If you want to stay in this community, then you must be a part of it. It was built into our business plan to be involved,” he says.  

The Wall of Fame inside his restaurant highlights other local businesses. It’s there to build up other small business owners.

“That’s what it’s all about. Because we help the community market their business, too,” he says. “By being a part of the public library, it shows how much we get involved.”

Supporting education 

Additionally, supporting kids’ education benefits businesses.

“We were able to inspire kids to read,” Steve says. “It’s all about kids’ education.” 

Steve says he gets excited when the kids get their pizzas.

“Parents come in and tell us how happy they are and how happy the kids are,” he says. 

Ellie loves seeing the benefits for kids by making reading something they want to do. 

“As a mom and working with so many teenagers, anything we can do to get them off their phones. I’m happy to play a small part in that,” she says. 

Looking ahead to summer, giving away their product is a welcome problem.

“We hope to get lots of kids reading. We would love to match or exceed last year’s participation. Lots and lots of meals given away because lots and lots of kids are picking up a book and reading,” Ellie says. 

“We’ll do it no matter what,” says Steve. “We enjoy it. It’s that story you want to hear. There’s enough going on in the world today. We need more feel-good stuff.” 

The 2026 Summer Reading Challenge starts Friday, May 22.