WFPL Summer Reading Winners get Firetruck Rides to School

Six lucky readers from the Summer Reading Club at West Florida Public Libraries received rides to school from Escambia County Fire Rescue in August and September after being drawn from a pool of 108 children who read 50 hours or more over the summer. 

The children participated in the Summer Reading Club at libraries across Escambia County. After the firetruck ride to school, the winners got to go up in the bucket with firefighters and enjoy a fire safety presentation with their classmates. Summer Reading Club participants between ages 6 and 11 who live in Escambia County and read at least 50 hours were eligible for the drawing.

The winners were:

• Nine-year-old Garrett Wiggin, who rode to McArthur Elementary School on Aug. 19. He said one of the most notable books he read over the summer was “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” by J.K. Rowling.
• Six-year-old David Skutt, who rode to Tryon Branch Library on Aug. 25. David is home-schooled and enjoyed a special story time and fire safety presentation.
• Seven-year-old Gavin Bramblett, who rode to Jim Allen Elementary School on Sept. 1. He said that one of his favorite books from the summer was about Captain America.
• Ten-year-old Brogan Dougherty, who rode to Blue Angels Elementary School on Sept. 2. She said she had trouble reading as a young child, but grew to love it through the dedication of her parents reading with her.
• Ten-year-old Victoria Coleman, who rode to Ferry Pass Middle School on Sept. 9. She said her favorite class is language arts and she wants to be a mystery writer.
• Ten-year-old Elle Houk, who rode to Pensacola Christian Academy on Sept. 28. She said she likes to read science books and was encouraged to read more over the summer for a chance to ride the firetruck.

More than 2,300 children ages 17 and under signed up for the 2016 Summer Reading Club. Over the course of the summer, six library branches held a total of 119 programs associated with Summer Reading Club. The firetruck rides were possible through cooperation with Escambia County Fire Rescue, the Escambia County School District and Pensacola Christian Academy.

For more information about this and other library events, call (850) 436-5060 or go to MyWFPL.com. For up-to-date event announcements, like West Florida Public Libraries on Facebook and follow @MyWFPL on Twitter.