March is National Reading Month, and Sky Zone Tampa is using it as an opportunity to bring literacy to the community.
The trampoline gym is hosting a month-long book drive, and on Monday, they’ll donate around 300 books to Achieve Plant City, a nonprofit fostering education and literacy in east Hillsborough County.
The company's regional communications manager, Brianna Marichel, said the management team felt like a book drive was a great way to celebrate the month.
"This was something that we all felt was really important to us," said Marichel.
Angelica Ibarra, Achieve Plant City's executive director, said the partnership is a great opportunity to serve the families they work with.
“We were thrilled,” she said. "We would love to be able to give more books out to our families but because of budget limitations we're not able to do that. So now that Sky Zone is doing that, that is fantastic because now we'll be able to send more books home with our families."
While some books will go directly to families, others will be used to flesh out the organization's lending library.
“By the end of their time with us, they really love to read. They don’t want to leave here without going to the lending library to pick a book for their parent to read to them," Ibarra said. "It’s exciting to see the change.
Sky Zone Tampa will continue collecting books through March 31.
There are other reading-inspired events happening across Tampa Bay this Saturday:
Hillsborough County
Event: Africon, a celebration of diverse superheroes
Location: Robert W. Saunders, Jr. Public Library, Tampa
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Pinellas County
Event: Storytime in the Park
Location: England Brothers Park, Pinellas Park
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 am
Pasco County
Event: Fusion Con 4
Location: New Port Richey Rec and Aquatic Center
Time: 11 am – 6 pm
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