Miss Heart of Dixie’s Outstanding Teen Emily Tingle competes with a platform of child literacy. Tingle has a rare blood disorder and in the ninth grade began thinking about the possibility of not being able to have kids of her own. Tingle began research about adoption and foster care as an alternative.

Tingle discovered while researching how bad the foster care and adoption system are in the state of Mississippi.

Tingle started the 37 Books Foundation, which collects books for children in the foster care and adoption system in Mississippi. The title was chosen because there are 3,700 kids in the foster care system.

“The 37 and the two o’s in the word book on our label make up the number 3,700,” Tingle said.

Tingle kicked-off the drive on March 1 and has collected 1,000 books. Additionally, $500 has been donated to her foundation as well.

The books collected are placed and donated in literacy bags that Tingle and a small group of her peers decorated with quotes and drawings.

There are bags for smaller children that have two small paperback books. The bags for older children contain one teen-genre book.

Friday afternoon at Warren Central High School Tingle made a donation to Cindy McCarley, program director of the Warren County Children’s Shelter.

“We are a part of the Mississippi Children Home Services and accept kids from all over the state, but we never turn down a Warren County child,” McCarley said.

Tingle receives a lot of children’s books and usually takes the money donated to her foundation to purchase more teen-orientated book such as “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins or “Divergent” by Veronica Roth. Tingle said she has a lot of teen books because they are more expensive and that way the books can stay on the shelves for other children going through the system to read.

Tingle is an avid reader and read constantly as a kid. She would often stay up late to finish reading.

“That’s what I got in trouble for as a child, how do you punish someone for that,” Tingle said with a laugh.

Tingle likes classic works of literature from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Ernest Hemmingway. Her favorite book is “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, and she is excited about the release of Harper’s new book.

The biggest challenge Tingle faced was finding people who are genuinely interested in her cause.

“People can nod along and say that it is a great idea but finding those who are willing to participate is a lot harder,” Tingle said. “Which is why I like to place boxes at bookstores, that way when people go in to buy a book and they can also donate.”

Tingle’s advice to kids looking to start their own foundation is to be prepared before you kick it off and to talk to as many churches and businesses as you can before you actually start your own drive.

“You need to have a set plan from start to finish and you need to communicate throughout the community,” Tingle said.