By Cheryl Kehrmeyer

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s take pride in their mission to inspire everyone to love, enjoy and conserve the great outdoors, and this pride was demonstrated on June 6 during their National Giving Day which kicked off the annual Gone event. Fishing.

This local event, held at the Bass Pro Shops, located at 10501 Palm River Rd. In Tampa, was part of the company’s national event in which more than 55,000 fishing rods and reels were donated to non-profit youth groups in the local community of each store.

This year, more than 500 rods and reels were donated to two organizations: the Tampa Bay Junior Bass Club and the Scouts of America Timucua District of the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council. The equipment is part of a customer exchange program held during the Spring Fishing Classic in February, and much of the equipment is new or lightly used high-quality rods and reels.

Ronnie Cheeks, Managing Director of Bass Pro Shops, spoke enthusiastically about the purpose of the event. “The Gone Fishing event and National Giving Day are so important to our business and to our founder, Johnny Morris. We want to challenge kids and families to put down phones and video games, pick up a fishing rod, and make memories together in the great outdoors.

For more information on Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, call 655-2400 or visit https://stores.basspro.com/us/fl/tampa/10501-palm-river-rd.html.