OUC And Lift Orlando Open Utility’s 11th “Little Free Library”

Initiative Promotes Literacy in Orlando’s West Lakes Neighborhood

ORLANDO, Fla. – OUC – The Reliable One and Lift Orlando held an unveiling ceremony to celebrate the opening of a Little Free Library in Orlando on June 18. The library, located at Lift Orlando’s Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center at 710 S. Tampa Ave, promotes literacy in the West Lakes community.

“We’re proud to continue promoting literacy in the community that we serve,” said Luz Aviles, OUC Vice President of Marketing and New Products. “At OUC, our mission is to deliver exceptional value to our customers and community, not just through electric and water service, but through meaningful partnerships that uplift and empower. Our support and growth of the Little Library program reflects our long-standing commitment to supporting education, strengthening communities, and working alongside partners like Lift Orlando to make a meaningful difference where it’s needed most.”

During summer break – and throughout the year – readers can either take a book for themselves or leave one for others to enjoy. The first series of books for the library was purchased and donated by OUC. Since 2021, the utility has opened 11 Little Free Libraries providing more than 4,000 books in its Empowerment Zone, which represents OUC’s commitment to helping revitalize the 32805 zip code through initiatives spearheaded by an employee-led taskforce.

“We’re incredibly grateful for our partnership with OUC, whose support has helped create a new access point to books and literacy in our neighborhood,” said Mark Shamley, Lift Orlando Vice President of Community Impact. “A special thanks goes to the talented students at Orange Center Elementary School for their creativity and dedication in painting the Little Library – their work reminds those entering the Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center that reading makes dreams more possible.”

The Little Free Library initiative began in Wisconsin in 2009 and has since led to the opening of more than 200,000 book-sharing boxes worldwide.

For more information about OUC’s Empowerment Zone projects, visit www.ouc.com.

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About OUC—The Reliable One
For more than 100 years, OUC—The Reliable One has provided exceptional value to its customers and community through the delivery of sustainable and reliable services and solutions. The utility provides electric, water, chilled water, lighting and solar services to more than 400,000 accounts in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated Orange and Osceola counties. As OUC prepares for the next century, it remains committed to a goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 while supporting the Central Florida community with conservation, sustainability and energy efficiency resources. Visit www.ouc.com to learn more.

About Lift Orlando
Lift Orlando is a place-based nonprofit that drives community development in The Communities of West Lakes and greater 32805 ZIP Code in Orlando, Fla. We unite residents, business leaders, and partners to strengthen neighborhoods so people can thrive through mixed-income housing, cradle-to-career education pathways, health and wellness services, and economic viability opportunities. Explore more LiftOrlando.org.