SCGLR's Pop-Up Neighbor Event at SuperMatt Laundromat — July 14, 2018

On July 14, 2018, the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and The Laundry Project teamed up to hold a #PopUpNeighbor event at SuperMatt Laundromat/Lavandería in Bradenton.  Pop Up Neighbor events are unexpected opportunities where caring volunteers make real connections with individuals and families while alleviating the cost of laundry. For three hours, everyone who walked into the laundromat had their laundry fees paid, thanks to the generosity of The Patterson Foundation. The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County provided books for the children, the Food Bank of Manatee County provided food sacks and fresh produce for all the laundromat patrons, the Manatee County Library System was there with information on how to get a library card, Manatee Rural Health Services provided information on health resources, Volunteer Readers kept the book nook alive sharing books and stories, and UnidosNow provided information on college and career readiness and other programs as they empowered Latinos to achieve their American dreams. The Patterson Foundation provided breakfast and lunch, and the volunteers and laundromat patrons provided bundles of goodwill, baskets full of smiles, and a sense of community that will last far longer than fresh-scent of the dryer sheets. – Beth Duda, Director of the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading