United Way leaders are teaming up with the Starkville Kiwanis Club and the Starkville Public Library for a project they hope will be a real page-turner for people across a four-county area.
Beginning Monday, March 21 the “United We Read” project will be an effort aimed at helping to promote and encourage reading and literacy across Oktibbeha, Choctaw, Webster and Winston counties. The project is coordinated by the United Way of North Central Mississippi in partnership with the Starkville Public Library and the Starkville Kiwanis Club
In its third year, the “United We Read” project is one of multiple community outreach and service projects coordinated by the United Way across the four counties served by the organization, said Candy Crecink, United Way of North Central Mississippi executive director.
“The ‘United We Read’ project provides another way for the United Way to be actively involved in improving our community beyond just raising money each fall to support 15 charitable agencies,” Crecink said. “With education playing such a vital role in the life of Starkville and Oktibbeha County and one of the United Way’s main focuses being enhancing education, we want to sponsor a project that encourages people of all ages to embrace reading as a part of life-long learning.”
The “United We Read” project will take place in two stages, said Angel Baker, a United Way board member who is coordinating the project.
The first part of the project involves the book drive from March 21 to April 2. Community members are asked to donate slightly used fiction or nonfiction books – either paperback or hardcover – they no longer want or need. Donors should not bring magazines, used activity books or reference books such as encyclopedias or college textbooks, Baker said.
Collection locations
Collection bins for book donations will be placed at the following locations in Starkville:
Volunteers will also be present to collect books from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 26 and April 2 at the Book Mart & Cafe, the Oktibbeha County Co-op and Barnes & Noble.
Donors can go online to usbornebookcase.com, go to the “United Way-United We Read” shopping event link and order books to be donated to the drive.
Once collected, books will be taken to a clearinghouse to be sorted according to reading level/age group and prepared for redistribution at “The Great United We Read Book Giveaway” event at the Starkville Sportsplex April 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The book giveaway event will provide children, youth and adults an opportunity to select books they can read during the summer months.
In addition, “United We Read” will seek a partnership with the Golden Triangle Area Agency on Aging to deliver books to senior citizens participating in the home-delivered meals program.
Any books remaining after the “Great United We Read Book Giveaway” will be donated to the Starkville Public Library for the Friends of the Library group to use in its monthly book sale fundraiser, Baker said.
“We really view this project as a win-win for all the participating organizations,” said Baker. “‘United We Read’ will involve people across the community in an effort to encourage people to read.”
For more information about the project or to volunteer, call the NCM United Way offices at 662-323-3830 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday or e-mail [email protected]. Messages left at the United Way office will be returned as soon as possible.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.