College of Education helps sponsor second annual Books for Children program

The College of Education was once again a partner with the UK Athletics Student Advisory Council and several Fayette County area organizations and businesses for the second annual Books for Children drive. This year contributors donated one hundred and fifteen books at the College of Education. Most notably in this year's contributions was the fact that donations appealed to a diverse audience of young readers.

Books for Children is an annual program whose goal is to collect new books that will be distributed to children throughout the Fayette County area.

The drive began November 1. Collection boxes were located within the college and also at some of the local businesses listed below.

Organizers of the Books for Children stressed they were principally concerned with donations of new books. The idea was to spur improved literacy among young people by placing new books into their hands. While dog-eared and worn books may be symbolic of how much a book meant to another individual, the organizers wanted children who may never have owned a book before to have a new book to call their own.

In addition to the College of Education, drop-off locations included:

· Joseph Beth Booksellers offered a 20% discount on all books purchased and donated to the Books for Children drop off at their store.
· Zany Brainy at Crossroads Plaza offered a 10% discount on books purchased for the Books for Children program.
· All public library locations in Fayette and Jessamine Counties.
· International Book Project, 1440 Delaware Avenue
· Quantrell Cadillac, Lexington
· Waldenbooks at their Fayette Mall and Turfland Mall locations
· Southern Hills United Methodist Church, 2356 Harrodsburg Rd., Lexington
· Jessamine Journal
· Jessamine Withers Memorial Library
· Nicholasville Chamber of Commerce, 611 N. Main St., Nicholasville
· Wal-Mart of Nicholasville
· Wilmore City Council

At the UK versus North Carolina basketball game on Saturday, December 8th, Books for Children sponsored a raffle was for all people who donated books just prior to the game. Several prizes were awarded including a pair of tickets to the UK-Georgia basketball game, a piece of the former Rupp Arena floor signed by Tubby Smith, and a whole host of gift certificates to several Lexington area restaurants and businesses.