JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan and Miss Florida 2025 Paris Richardson held a River City Readers event at Dinsmore Elementary School on Wednesday morning.
Deegan and Richardson read to students and gave them books from the Bookmobile, which was on-site.
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One of those books was "The Not-So-Perfect Garden Project," which was written by Richardson. Proceeds from the book have helped provide over 10,000 meals through Feeding Florida. This partnership connects literacy and nutrition, proving that small actions, like buying a book, can create real change in how families access food.
Richardson, a Jacksonville-native, says she will continue to champion literacy as she seeks the Miss America title in September in Orlando.
“To have her here to support literacy and to support these kids, you can see how excited they were to see her. It was just wonderful to have the opportunity to do a literacy event with her,” Deegan said.