Hope Lepley, Suncoast Resident; Ruth Proctor, Suncoast Volunteer Coordinator; Sue Gillespie, Suncoast Resident Coordinator; Bill Shreve, Suncoast Volunteer Coordinator; Faith Lepley, Suncoast Resident.

With the start of the school year quickly approaching, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida is helping to give students in the Suncoast Community a late-summer reading boost. The North Fort Myers-based nonprofit has donated approximately 100 books for kids and young adults to the Suncoast Community Center.

“Last year, we did a summer reading program in our stores,” explains Kirsten O’Donnell, Goodwill’s Director of Public Relations. “That was great, but this year, we felt like we needed to reach out more to get books to the kids that really needed them.”

In addition to Suncoast, Goodwill will also donate books to the Charleston Park Community Center and to the Literacy Council of Bonita Springs.

“We chose these three organizations because we’ve worked with them closely on other projects,” O’Donnell adds. “But if we get good feedback, there’s a good chance that we can expand this program next year to include more communities and programs in need in our area.”

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. helps people with disabilities and other barriers to employment develop their full potential through work and career development services. The organization supports seven Job-Link offices, which provide job skills, career training, and family strengthening services. Goodwill’s programs also include other educational initiatives, including the L.I.F.E. Academy Charter School and the Florida High School/High Tech program.

Source: Goodwill Industries