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Pandemic forces postponement of Ride for Reading's biggest fundraiser

Posted at 9:36 PM, May 05, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-05 23:33:23-04

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Donations for a Nashville non-profit that gives books to children in lower-income communities are down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Volunteers with Ride for Reading delivers books to children by bicycle, giving hundreds of thousands of books over the years. But after COVID-19 forced the postponement of its biggest fundraiser, the East Nashville Beer Festival, the group needs help more than ever.

Ride for Reading's executive director says the crisis has also hurt the ability of regular donors to give.

"Us as a smaller organization, they're directing their funds, which ultimately means we don't have as much funding coming in," Brenda Mikec said. "And even though we're not physically doing our program we're still trying to find alternative ways to reach children."

Since its inception in 2008, Ride for Reading has donated more than half a million books to children at Title I schools.

Donations will be used to help give away books after the pandemic subsides. You can visit the organization at rideforreading.org.