Books bound for local schools
A book drive has recently been formed to help local children and adults alike who lack a necessary privilege – the ability to read books. Starting this past Tuesday, the service sorority Gamma Sigma Sigma and the volunteering organization First Book started collaborating similar ideas to create an organization for the common good.
Kaitlyn Dietz, a sophomore biology major and member of Gamma Sigma Sigma, was a founder of the book drive.
“We had the idea to have a book drive at first and to take the books we use to local schools and do a book buddy program,” Dietz said. “As that started up, we had book donations from the history club, not just for kids, but there were a bunch of books for adults donated. The books will begin going to the education program, which really needs them, and also to local schools and to health centers. We wanted to find a place to donate to those who will put them to good use.”
Last semester as Gamma Sigma Sigma was preparing for this large-scale drive, First Book was forming similar plans.
“Kaitlyn Dietz and I went to high school together and we found out we were both having a book drive for Baldwin County, so we decided instead of doing them separately, to combine our efforts to make the best book drive that we could,” said service leader of First Book Anna-Marie DiPalma.
Gamma Sigma Sigma and First Book have since collaborated with the local Kidney Dialysis Center providing books for the patients that have little to do while they lie in the hospital day after day.
The two groups initially dealt with some unforeseen circumstances like bad weather when the book drive was intended to start, but they have made significant progress despite their conditions.
“It was a rainy day on Tuesday so we didn’t get the amount of books we would have liked, but on Wednesday we actually had a teacher who said she would donate a box of books,” Dietz said. “This is our first book drive. We want to try doing it every month and we’re still working on getting together with elementary schools in the area.”
The groups are trying to reach the goal of having a book for every elementary school student at Eagle Ridge Elementary, which would come to about 350 books, but they are up to the challenge.
“Our goal is to have all of the books we need and to present them to Eagle Ridge at the beginning of next month on a Friday,” DiPalma said. “We want to start holding reading days with the kids where we can go into the classrooms and show the kids how important books are.”
Gamma Sigma Sigma and First Book are still in the process of receiving donations and also gaining new members to help with the cause. Books can be dropped off at The GIVE Center at any time and will be given to any of the three organizations the book drive is donating to.
Posted by Joanna Sullivan
on Mar 12 2010. Filed under Features.
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