NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Some 50 volunteer bicyclists peddled to promote literacy Saturday morning as part of the Ride for Reading organization.
The group started at Two Rivers Skate Park and made their way to the Martha O'Bryan Center to give away thousands of books to children from low income households.
Mathew Portell started the organization in 2008 in his basement when he realized some children in his fourth grade class could not afford books.
"I wanted to combine my passion for cycling and literacy," Portell said. "We started partnering with some Metro schools [and] our first delivery was to the International Newcomer Academy. Some of these children had never owned anything before in their life."
Portell says he can remember the looks on the children's faces, and at that moment he knew they were on the right track of doing something good in Nashville.
He said since the organization has grown in the city, it has also expanded to other placed as well.
"We are letting people do what we do here and spread our mission," Portell said.
Since February of 2008, Ride for Reading has donated over 100,000 books.
"We are to going to pass that this school year," he said. "We just want to pass that love for reading and the interest of growing a strong mind [and] strong body."
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean also joined the cyclists as part of his "Share a Book" campaign.
"Reading is the foundation to every skill you possibly can have," Mayor Dean said. "Rather you are going into math or science or history or English, you have to have strong fundamental reading skills, so developing a love for reading is important."
The Ride for Reading organization is constantly in need of books and there are drop boxes at most local bike shops.
