Goodwill Manasota has invited area families to enjoy the Good Readers Program, which will begin anew in Manatee County later this month. Each of the monthly installments will take place on Saturday mornings at 11am in one of the four Goodwill Manasota Bookstores in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Goodwill Ambassadors (volunteers) will read to groups of children for an hour, while parents are free to browse the store or listen with their child. When story time ends, each child will receive a free book. First launched in 2014, the Good Readers Program works to engage young minds and foster a lifelong love of reading in children. Studies show that children exposed to books at a young age are more likely to do better both academically and behaviorally. The goal of the Good Readers program is to provide additional support and assistance for low-income children, and the gift of books of their own. Dates and locations of the Good Readers Program are: Manatee Bookstore (5512 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton), April 21 and August 18, 11am; Clark Bookstore (5831 Derek Avenue, Sarasota). May 19 and September 15, 11am; Tara Bookstore (7200 55th Ave E, Bradenton), June 16 and October 20, 11am; and Venice Bookstore (1752 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice), July 21 and Nov 17, 11am.

Goodwill Manasota