As a primarily volunteer organization, we are always in need of new or gently-used children’s books, ages Pre-K through 4th grade. We will also accept middle & high school-aged books.
“The Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report: Fifth Edition confirms what we’ve long known: Independent reading, both at school and at home, builds successful readers. What’s more, the research shows that giving students a say in what they read is key. And from our experience, we also know that frequent reading creates proficient readers who thrive personally and academically.”
One of our goals on our Ride for Reading Book Deliveries is to provide students the opportunity to select a book of their choice to take home to promote literacy both in and outside the classroom. With a statewide (and nationwide) push by school districts to improve literacy, Ride for Reading is helping by donating books to schools in low-income communities. We want to help improve outcomes by donating books to students who may be struggling with reading. “We have found that there is a gap between school and home when it comes to literacy,” said Brenda Mikec, Executive Director of Ride for Reading. “A lot of students don’t have books, much less age-appropriate ones, at home and this affects the progress that is made during the school day. We want to make sure every child has the tools necessary to succeed as we work to decrease, and ultimately eliminate, illiteracy rates.” Ride for Reading promotes literacy and healthy living among kids living in low-income communities by delivering age-appropriate books via bicycle. With the support of volunteers, sponsors and partners, Ride for Reading has been serving the Nashville and surrounding communities for over 10 years!
If you would like to collect or donate books to be delivered to children in lower-income communities, you can do so in the following ways:
- Schedule a pick-up or meet-up with a Ride for Reading staff member or volunteer by e-mailing info@rideforreading.org.
- Visit one of our drop-off sites in and around Nashville.
- Host a book drive at your business, school, neighborhood, etc. Once books are collected, contact info@rideforreading.org to arrange a drop-off or pick-up.
Book Donation Drop-Off Sites
For your convenience we have drop-off sites located around Nashville with our business supporters.
*NOTE: For large book donations, please contact the location ahead of time to ensure they have the space or contact us at info@rideforreading.org to coordinate a drop-off. Please see list below:
Nashville – Metro
- Ride for Reading
1515 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 378-7323 - Cumberland Transit
2807 West End Ave. Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 321-4069 - Green Fleet Bicycle Shop
934 Jefferson St, Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 379-8687 - Halcyon Bike Shop
2802 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 730-9344 - Fairytales Bookstore
114 S 11th St, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 915-1960 - MOAB Bike Shop(formerly Eastside Cycles)
103 S 11th St, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 678-8762 - Ride615 Bicycle Shop – Sylvan Park
4511 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209
(615) 922-6511 - Von Elrod’s Beer Garden & Sausage House
1004 4th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219
(615) 866-1620 - YeeHaw Brewing Co./Ole Smoky Moonshine
423 6th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
(865) 436-6995
Nashville – East
- Ride615 Bicycle Shop – Hermitage
3441 Lebanon Pike #103, Hermitage, TN 37076
(615) 200-7433
Nashville – North
- Yazoo Brewing Company – Madison
900 River Bluff Dr, Madison, TN 37115
(615) 891-4649
Nashville – South
- Deep South Growlers- Lenox Village
6900 Lenox Village Drive Ste. 6, Nashville, TN 37211
(615) 401-9156 - Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea – Lenox Village
6900 Lenox Village Dr., Ste. 8, Nashville, TN
(615) 810-9386
Nashville – West
- Trail & Fitness Bicycles – Belle Meade
5133 Harding Pike Ste A6, Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 499-4634 - Trace Bikes – Bellevue
8080B TN-100, Nashville, TN 37221
(615) 646-2485
Rutherford County
- MOAB Bicycle Shop – Murfreesboro
710 Memorial Blvd #100, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
(615) 893-7725
Sumner County
- Bikers Choice – Hendersonville
709 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
(615) 822-2512 - Half Batch Brewing – Hendersonville
393 E Main St Suite 6A, Hendersonville, TN 37075
(615) 431-5479
Williamson County
- MOAB Bicycle Shop – Franklin
109 Del Rio Pike, Franklin, TN 37064
(615) 807-2305 - REI – Brentwood
261 Franklin Road Brentwood, TN 37027
(615) 376-4248
Outside Middle Tennessee
- Woody’s Bicycles – Sewanee
90 Reed’s Ln, Sewanee, TN 37375
(931) 598-9793
Book Drive
A Ride for Reading Book Drive is a great way to get involved in your local community and engage your neighborhood or business to help RfR collect new or gently-used children’s books (grades pre-K – 5th grade) that will directly be delivered to children in a local Elementary Title 1 School or Community Center. All you need are some cardboard boxes and a few drop-off spots to set up a convenient collection area.
Local bike shops, coffee shops, businesses, apartment complexes and neighborhoods are typically great places to come together to collect a large amount of books.
Many of our deliveries require approximately 1,000 children’s books, so this is a great goal to aim for. This allows enough books for each child to choose at least 2 books.
Feel free to contact info@rideforreading.org for any questions on how to begin your Book Drive. Here are a few items that you may use for your Community Book Drive:
Thank you for your willingness to help collect books on behalf of Ride for Reading!
Thank You
Thank you to these individuals, businesses and organizations for donating and/or collecting several books, or coordinating/hosting a community book drive for Ride for Reading!
Businesses/Organizations
- Apple Store (Mall at Green Hills)
- Better World Books
- Boy Scouts of America (Sally Robertson)
- CycleBar Franklin
- Fairytales Bookstore
- Front Porch Ministry
- Frothy Monkey (Nations)
- Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
- Hunters Bend Elementary School
- Lenox Village Town Center/Retreat
- McKay’s Bookstore
- Mostly Tomatos
- Music City Church
- Nashville Christian Elementary (Matthew Edens)
- News Channel 5
- Nolensville Library
- OnLife Health
- Ravenwood High School (Nicholas Nicastro)
- Residences of Capitol View
- Rutherford County Schools (Kate Benavides)
- Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea – Lenox Village
- Therapeutic Interventions (Alyssa Fernandez)
- Vanderbilt Otalaryngology Dept.
- Vera Bradley (Cool Springs)
- Whitaker Corporation (Robert Komisar)
Individuals
- Kim Fletcher
- Michael Friddell
- Troy Williams
- Amanda Busch
- Maureen Sanderson
- Marlene Cheatham
- Michelle Bonnett