Bucket Fillers Reading Day is coming for St. Pete kids

Sarasota-based nonprofit Embracing Our Differences has been heavily investing in Pinellas County. 

The organization, which focuses on art and educational initiatives, installed its second art exhibition in St. Petersburg’s Poynter Park in March. It will host its first Bucket Fillers Reading Day, a Pre-K to third grade initiative, in the county Nov. 13 (World Kindness Day). 

The event will take place at Maximo Elementary, Lakeview Fundamental and Campbell Park Elementary, St. Pete schools. 

Introduced in Sarasota in 2017, the Bucket Fillers Reading Day initiative is a partnership with Venice-based author and educator Carol McCloud. 

She wrote a series of books relating to the concept of “bucket filling,” according to the nonprofit’s vice president of learning and engagement Patrick Arthur Jackson. 

This refers to the acts of kindness that students can do to fill up someone’s emotional “bucket.” 

“Our vision as an organization is to create a world where differences are respected and valued,” Jackson explained. “Part of that is really working with primarily K-12 students and helping them be more kind, respectful and inclusive.”

Schools have the option to work with an in-person volunteer, who will read to the students, or use a pre-recorded webisode, which features appearances from members of local arts organizations and community partners. 

The children will then participate in activities after the read-alongs to encourage further conversations, he added. They will also receive their own copies of the “Bucket Fillers” book that was read to them.  

Approximately 10,000 students in Sarasota and Manatee counties participated in last year’s event. 

Embracing Our Differences is also hosting its inaugural St. Petersburg Luncheon Dec. 5 at the Mahaffey Theater. This event will feature a presentation and guest speakers. 

“As we plant some firm roots in St. Pete and Pinellas, it’s been really important for us to have an event that brings the community together,” Jackson said, “so that we can share more deeply about our mission and vision.” 

Embracing Our Differences started with a partnership with the Florida Holocaust Museum, which is located in St. Petersburg. 

In 2004, the organizations collaborated to bring a traveling exhibition entitled “Coexistence” to Sarasota from the Museum on the Seam, which is located in Jerusalem, Israel. 

The nonprofit’s next art exhibition at Poynter Park will be March 7 through April 12, 2026. It will feature pieces by amateur artists, children, teenagers and educators from around the world.

“We think it’s important to continue to expand this mission, especially in the climate that we are in,” Jackson explained. “We’ve seen how our artwork and education initiatives can create spaces for conversation and discussion in a way that’s safe.” 

Embracing Our Differences website