Ride for Reading in the Memphis Area!

The Memphis chapter of Ride for Reading got its start when some teenagers and their youth minister heard about the great work that was happening with Ride for Reading in Nashville and they called Mathew Portell to volunteer for a week of work during the summer.  Talk quickly turned to the need for a RfR chapter in the Memphis area.  Book drives were quickly planned and carried out in local high schools and businesses.  Ride for Reading was even able to make a presentation to the entire student body of Sacred Heart School in Southaven, MS.  Information was also distributed at the Sunday Funday bike emphasis month at Mud Island in Memphis.

Currently, the Memphis chapter of RfR has collected approximately 5,000 books.  Relationships with local cyclists are being built and the first book delivery should take place within the next month.  Plans are being made to schedule a teacher support night at a local school as well.  The Memphis chapter is targeting the Memphis metro area of Shelby and Fayette counties in Tennessee, Crittenden county in Arkansas, and Tunica, Tate, DeSoto, and Marshall counties in Mississippi.

Oh, and the teens who first got excited about helping RfR?  Several are  currently searching for or building their own bicycles for the express purpose of being able to deliver books to children who need them!

For more information contact the Memphis RfR director Jeff Shocklee at jeff@rideforreading.org.