Date: December 8, 2008
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director, Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu

PNC Students Collect Books, Mittens to Help Others

Westville –The Purdue North Central Student Education Association (SEA) is coordinating two book drives and collecting mittens and winter items that will all be donated to area agencies for distribution.

SEA members are leading the Bring a Book to Breakfast drive in conjunction with the Jan. 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration breakfast. The breakfast, in the PNC Library-Student-Faculty Building cafeteria, begins at 8 a.m. and is free and open to the public.

Attendees are invited to bring a new or slightly used children's book to breakfast, where SEA members will be accepting the donated books. All books will be given to the Literacy Council of Healthy Communities of LaPorte County.

The collection is under way on campus. Donation boxes are located in the Dean of Students Office in the Library-Student-Faculty Building and the office of Pat Carlisle, special assistant to the chancellor, in Schwarz Hall Room 133B.

Last year the SEA collected more than 584 books that were donated to local hospitals for use by their patients and their families. This year, the SEA hopes to surpass this amount.

SEA is also accepting used textbooks that will be donated to the PACT Bradley House in Michigan City . Last year students brought in more than 80 used textbooks. Books can be donated Dec. 15 to 19 and may be dropped in collection boxes located outside the PNC bookstore.

The group is also collecting new or slightly used hats, gloves, scarves, and other winter necessities for children and adults to help support The Sand Castle Homeless Shelter in Michigan City .

The idea for this drive came after SEA members designed their campus Christmas tree around the theme of the book, “The Mitten” by Jan Bret. This tells the story of a group of animals who used a lost mitten for shelter and comfort. The association will donate two copies of the book, “The Mitten” to the shelter.

“We wanted to bring that same comfort to families in need,” said SEA President Tracy Wylie.

Donations can be made until Dec. 12 in the Education Department Office in Technology Building Room 205.

“PNC students and our community have supported our efforts in the past and we hope to surpass last year's collections,” said SEA Treasurer Melanie Eng.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Wylie at twylie@pnc.edu .

 

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