FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 4, 2015) – For the eighth year in a row, the owners of Bennett’s Fresh Roast in Fort Myers are encouraging children to read while out of school for the summer.

“Education shouldn’t stop when summer begins,” said Bennett’s co-owner, and former teacher of special needs students in Lee County for 16 years, Frank Albano. “Reading is the perfect summer activity because it takes kids on different adventures and opens up their imaginations.”

Beginning June 1 through August 31, Bennett’s will offer school-aged children, from kindergarten through fifth grade, a complimentary fresh donut each time they read a book at either Bennett’s downtown Fort Myers or Sanibel Island location. Children may receive one free donut per day when they read a book and are accompanied by a parent until 3 p.m. at the Fort Myers location and until 4 p.m. on Sanibel, while daily supplies last. A selection of books appropriate for children are available for reading on site.

“We have been really pleased with the response we’ve had during the past seven years from all the kids and families, and we anxiously await summer to begin so we can bring this program back each year,” added Albano. “If we can have a small part in helping parents encourage their kids to read, we’re happy to do it. Our comfortable seating areas are the perfect spot for kids to curl up with a good book. And when the summer weather cooperates, our outside patio areas are very relaxing, too. We encourage children’s laughter in our shops.”

Bennett’s Fresh Roast has prided itself on its fresh-from-scratch donuts made daily and being the only Fort Myers’ donut shop to serve fresh roasted coffee from the finest beans resulting in the most flavorful and freshest cup of coffee around. For the past seven years, the Bennett’s team has been known for unveiling delicious new donut concoctions from flavors including maple bacon, pumpkin spice, maple toffee crunch, s’mores and more. The shop has also become known for surprising offerings like its limited sale (which sold out) of Kopi Luwak coffee, often called “cat-poo coffee” after the prized bean from Indonesia that’s eaten by wild civets, passed through the animal’s digestive tract, and then collected and processed for brewing.

In addition to fresh roasted coffee and hand-cut-from-scratch donuts, Bennett’s also offers fresh desserts from Bennett’s co-owner Bob Grissinger’s own recipe book including praline bread pudding and lemon bars, giving area residents an alternative for afternoon treats. Bennett’s also features packaged whole bean or ground coffees, breakfast muffins, oatmeal and breakfast sandwiches. On the weekends, Bennett’s Strata (a layered baked breakfast dish) is a regular sellout at its downtown location, while the Strata is available every day on Sanibel. The Sanibel shop also offers a pancake dish for breakfast. Tea lovers may choose from a large variety of Harney & Sons Fine Teas. Lunch offerings including paninis, soups, sandwiches, three signature salads and Bennett’s ‘Chicken & Donut’ and ‘Donut Dog’ are available Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bennett’s Sanibel location also offers Artisan Gelato by Norman Love beginning at 11 a.m. daily until closing.

Bennett’s downtown Fort Myers shop is located at 2011 Bayside Parkway and is open Monday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bennett’s Sanibel shop is located at 1020 Periwinkle Way and is open Monday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information, visit www.BennettsFreshRoast.com