Create meaningful opportunities for interactive shared language and literacy experiences anywhere you go! The Ride and Read Program provides families with engaging texts, activity cards and storytelling props in a convenient travel tote so that they can build early literacy and language skills through joyful interactions.
Knowing the importance of family involvement in successful student learning, this program strives to provide families with the tools and resources they need to build a strong early language and literacy foundation.
To Donate to Ride & Read, click here.
Hello, I’m Dr. Gina Pepin, an Escanaba teacher and United Way of Delta County board member. I created the Ride and Read program especially for our rural community, where families often spend hours traveling on the road. After hearing stories from my students about their journeys between homes and sports, I wanted to make every mile an opportunity for joyful learning and connection.
Through Ride and Read, families can choose from themed travel totes filled with engaging books, activity cards and storytelling props – making it easy to turn travel time into fun literacy moments. Each tote is thoughtfully designed to grow early literacy using creative, hands-on play and meaningful conversations.
As a reading teacher, two-time Region 1 Michigan Teacher of the Year and State Finalist, and passionate author and advocate for early literacy, I designed the Ride and Read program so families can easily access rich language and literacy materials, no matter where life takes them.
This program is all about providing communities with FREE resources to support early literacy at home and on the go. We've provided you with free downloads of the printed materials in each bag. Look for the Themed Totes section on our Ride and Read page, click the theme of your choice and access the documents.
I hope Ride and Read helps your family discover that Adventure Starts with a Story!
Volunteers are needed to help assemble and deliver Ride and Read Totes.
Help families spark literacy, connection and joy everywhere they go -- because Adventure Starts with a Story!
Each Ride and Read tote is packed with high-quality books, educational toys and durable activity cards and materials to help unlock imagination and boost literacy skills, inviting families to discover new worlds, one borrowed bag at a time.
Sponsorships help cover United Way's costs to produce and distribute Ride and Read totes to make them accessible to Delta County families. Each tote is valued at around $300.
Literacy Friend: $300
Provide one family with a tote full of books and learning activities
Family Champion: $900
Bring the joy of reading to three families
Neighborhood Advocate: $1,500
Help create a network of literacy-rich homes
Site Partner: $3,000
Provide a complete collection of 9 themed Ride and Read totes for a local library, school or community site where families can check them out and bring them home
Literacy Leader: $6,000+
Transform whole neighborhoods, providing lasting literacy resources to families
Every sponsorship places more stories, more adventures and more opportunities for learning into the hands of local children and families.
Sponsor recognition will be included in promotional materials and on our website and social posts.
Are you interested in hosting a Ride and Read checkout site at your business or community center?
Please email Julie Mallard at julie@uwdelta.org or call the United Way office at (906) 786-3736.
Themed Totes
