The West Virginia University College of Education and Human Services Alumni Association and WVU Extension Service’s Energy Express will combine efforts for the College’s Holiday Children’s Book Drive, which benefits low-income children in grades K-6.
A large portion of book contributions will be distributed by Energy Express and will reach approximately 3,000 disadvantaged children across West Virginia. Energy Express, an award-winning summer literacy program under the leadership of WVU Extension Service’s 4-H Youth Development program, provides learning opportunities and nutrition to children living in rural and low-income communities throughout the state during the summer months, when they are most at risk for falling behind on reading levels – a preventable loss known as the “summer slide.”
Click below to hear the WVUToday radio spot about the book drive.
“Access to books encourages literacy development,” said Energy Express Director Terri Collier. “Providing reading materials to children with limited access to books will encourage literacy development and provide increased educational opportunities to our most disadvantaged youth. Energy Express provides books to more than 3,000 children in West Virginia every summer and we are very excited to partner with the CEHS Alumni to increase the number of books that can be distributed for the children to enjoy.”
Collection dates are Dec. 2 through Dec. 19. New and gently used books can be donated to drop off boxes at the following locations:
• Morgantown Mall, Children’s Play Area
• Mountaineer Mall, Osher Long Life Learning Institute
• Black Bear’s Suncrest and Downtown locations
• Suncrest Methodist Church
• Healthworks’ Maple Drive location
• 802 Allen Hall, WVU Evansdale Campus
• United Bank’s Cheat Lake, Sabraton and Waterfront locations
Additional collections are being organized in Charleston. College alumni Glenna (Sherry) and Mike Cunningham, and Teresa Eagle, dean of Marshall University’s School of Education and Professional Development, are leading book collections that will benefit McDowell County school libraries.
The Holiday Children’s Book Drive coincides with the College’s mission to enhance and improve educational opportunities in West Virginia. Last year’s book drive collected more than 1,900 books and was distributed by Energy Express Americorps Mentors to more than 50 sites in the state. The College’s Alumni Association plans to exceed that count in 2014.
For more information about the book drive or the College of Education and Human Services Alumni Association, contact Alumni Relations and Special Events Coordinator Mary Beth Sickles at 304-293-3292 or at Marybeth.Sickles@mail.wvu.edu.
-WVU-
cz/11/24/14
CONTACT: Christie Zachary, College of Education and Human Services
304.293.0224; Christie.Zachary@mail.wvu.edu
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