A book drive for community schools with limited library resources in Alabama’s Black Belt region is hoping to donate at least one book per child.
For 14 years, the Books for the Alabama Black Belt campaign has provided books to some of the poorest counties in Alabama. In four years, the drive has donated 35,000 books to over 58 county schools.
“We have a wonderful group of people in our center that have been working on this project for many years,” Nisa Miranda, the director of the University of Alabama’s Center for Economic Development, said. “And the number of books raise has been amazing. We were trying to get a book in the hand of each child in the Black Belt and we have surpassed that number many times.”
Books are delivered to schools in the 13 counties that make up the Black Belt region in March. Last year, Moundville Elementary School received 700 books. Principal Jonathan Posey said this book drive has impacted their school tremendously.
“So we were able to increase the number of books we have in our school’s library, which got more books into the hands of students,” Posey said. “They’re able to check out, take home, read with their parents, read with their little siblings. So it helps to instill the love of reading for students.”
The Alabama Black Belt Drive continues through Feb. 18.
If you’re interested in donating books, please contact Sally Brown at 205-348-8344.
