Chapters Host Book Drives Across the Nation

2016 Jun 28

Between February and April this spring, the Phi Kappa Phi Council of Students hosted its third annual Book Drive Competition. As part of the contest, 19 chapters across the country hosted drives to collect as many books as possible for an organization of their choice.

The book drives were held at both colleges and universities nationwide. Beneficiary organizations chosen by the chapters ranged from schools to hospitals to other community organizations including tutoring and mentoring programs, shelters, correctional centers and even a university in Kenya.

In all, the participating chapters collected nearly 7,500 books!

The three chapters whose book drives collected the most donations were named as winners:

• Campbell University (drive organized by Chapter President Harriet Enzor and Student Vice President Alexandra Gamrod)
• University of Missouri-St. Louis (drive organized by Chapter President Jeanne Zarucchi and Student Vice President Amanda Rawls)
• Angelo State University (drive organized by Chapter President Lesley Casarez and Student Vice President Jessica Gambrell)

These chapters will receive a "Little Free Library" and $150 for personalizing their Little Free Library. The concept of the Little Free Library is a "'take a book, return a book' gathering place" in a community-a prize that fits in well with Phi Kappa Phi's love of learning and literacy. The chapters will decide where to place their Little Free Libraries whether somewhere on their campuses or in their local communities.

Other chapters that hosted a book drive as part of the contest include Arkansas State University; Berry College, California State University, Sacramento; Campbell University; Duquesne University; Idaho State University; Ithaca College; Louisiana State University; Murray State University; North Dakota State University; University of Bridgeport; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; University of Maryland, College Park; University of Maryland, University College; University of Missouri, Kansas City; University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and University of West Georgia.

To see photos from the book drives hosted across the nation, visit the Phi Kappa Phi Flickr page.

Chapters interested in learning more about the contest or how to host their own book drives or service projects can contact Kay White.