The West Virginia University College of Human Resources and Education Alumni Association collected more than 1,000 books this week to ensure area children have books to read this holiday season.

Partnering with the United Way for the second consecutive year, the College of Human Resources and Education Alumni Association organizes the book drive to promote literacy to disadvantaged children in Monongalia and Preston counties, and just recently added, McDowell County.

New and gently used books were donated to drop boxes at the following locations:

• Morgantown Mall
• Mountaineer Mall
• Giant Eagle at University Town Centre
• 802 Allen Hall, WVU Evansdale Campus
• All Morgantown BB&T locations
• All Morgantown Centra Bank locations
• Bookholders.com
• Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at WVU, Mountaineer Mall Location

The College of Human Resources and Education Alumni Association expanded its efforts this year to include donations to McDowell County children through the generous support of Marshall University School of Education and Professional Development. The expansion was coordinated by Dean Teresa Eagle, Director-at-Large for the WVU College of Human Resources and Education Alumni Association and HR&E Alumni Sherry (BS`71) and Michael (EdD `96) Cunningham. In all, their first year efforts resulted in the collection of more than 200 books which will be divided and sent to libraries in the neediest schools of McDowell County.

The children’s book drive coincides with the College of Human Resources and Education’s mission to enhance and improve educational opportunities across the state. Last year’s book drive totaled 430 books, but this year’s collection of more than 1000 books exceeded the organization’s goal to double 2010’s collection.

Donated books will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Central West Virginia, Children’s Home Society of West Virginia, Christian Help, Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center, Salvation Army, Scott’s Run Settlement House and the Shack Neighborhood House.

For more information about the book drive or the College of Human Resources and Education Alumni Association, contact alumni relations and special events coordinator Mary Beth Sickles at 304-293-3292 or Marybeth.sickles@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-
1/4/12

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CONTACT: Christie Zachary, Human Resources and Education
304-293-5703, christie.zachary@mail.wvu.edu