SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Springfield Thunderbirds are thrilled to announce the return of their community partnership with the Springfield City Library and the T-Birds Foundation through “Boomer’s Reading Club.”
On five afternoons in February, Thunderbirds forward Drew Callin, alongside a teammate, mascot Boomer, and T-Birds staff, will engage in interactive reading sessions and activities with local youth at various branches of the Springfield City Library.
“Going to a T-Birds game is fun for the whole family, and so is going to the Springfield City Library! We are so excited to renew our partnership with the Springfield Thunderbirds with Boomer’s Reading Club, which combines reading, library activities, and a chance to meet some of your favorite hockey players,” expressed Jean Canosa Albano, Assistant Director at Springfield City Library. “For the second straight year, we’ll share some great books and discover why getting into reading when you are young is so important and fun.”
The tentative dates and locations for Boomer’s Reading Club are as follows:
- Thursday, Feb. 8: 3:45-4:45 p.m. – Springfield Central Library Children’s Room (220 State Street)
- Monday, Feb. 12: 3:45-4:45 p.m. – East Forest Park Branch (136 Surrey Road)
- Thursday, Feb. 15: 3:45-4:45 p.m. – Mason Square Branch (765 State Street)
- Wednesday, Feb. 21: 3:45-4:45 p.m. – East Springfield Branch (21 Osborne Terrace)
- Tuesday, Feb. 27: 3:45-4:45 p.m. – Sixteen Acres Branch (1187 Parker Street)
Apart from Callin’s involvement, the T-Birds Foundation will contribute to Boomer’s Reading Club with book donations and various supplies for each branch.
Thunderbirds President Nathan Costa expressed, “We are proud to continue our support of the Springfield City Library and thank Drew Callin for his commitment to our youth in the area. The T-Birds Foundation will be directly involved once again to ensure that the Springfield City Library and its numerous branches have every resource necessary to enhance the experience for all children who visit. We hope that the different branches see another tremendous turnout and, more importantly, we join in their wishes that reading becomes a lifelong passion for these young children.”
Boomer’s Reading Club represents the latest reimagination of Thunderbirds’ community programming. In 2023, the Thunderbirds made over 300 appearances in the Greater Springfield community, including trips to more than 40 participating schools in the Thunderbirds’ Stick to Reading program, promoting the love of books in local school districts, including Springfield Public Schools.