December 02, 2009

Events will support Book in Every Home campaign

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Two upcoming events are set to benefit Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s annual “Book in Every Home” campaign.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers is setting aside Saturday, Dec. 5, as a day that patrons can use that day’s purchases to help the 433 children enrolled in six area Head Start centers. On that day, patrons can present a voucher prior to their purchase, with a percentage of the net sale presented to “Book in Every Home” to buy additional children’s books. The voucher is available online here or in the Fliers Row section of the University’s Saluki Times. Click on the corresponding flier to print a copy of the voucher and present it Dec. 5 at Barnes & Noble. The voucher is also available at http://news.siuc.edu/fliersrow.html.

In addition to the Dec. 5 event at Barnes & Noble, Saluki men’s basketball fans have the opportunity to win great gifts when they donate a book at the Saturday, Dec. 12, men’s basketball game against Alabama State at the SIU Arena.

Fans who bring a book to the game will receive a raffle ticket. The ticket gives fans the opportunity to win one of three prizes at that game -- an autographed basketball, autographed media guide, or T-shirt. The game begins at 3:05 p.m.

Erika Lowery, campaign chair and wife of SIU men’s basketball coach Chris Lowery, will host a special reading at the store at 10 a.m., Dec. 5. The store is at 1300 E. Main St., Carbondale. Also expected to make an appearance are other SIUC athletes. Brown Dawg will also appear briefly prior to the football home playoff game against William & Mary.

Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover the 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, reading at Barnes & Noble with Erika Lowery. For more information on the Head Start program, contact Cathy J. Reed, SIUC Head Start director, at 618/453-6448. Editors note: Please include both the Dec. 5 book reading and the Dec. 12 men’s basketball game in your respective community events calendar.

Cathy J. Reed, director of SIUC’s Head Start program, appreciates the community’s continuing support. The goal of the drive is to collect enough books so that each of the children enrolled in the Head Start centers receives at least one book to take home and call their own. Children ages three to five attend Head Start centers in Carbondale, Carterville, Johnston City, Marion, and Murphysboro.

The nationally respected program is in its 39th year. It is one of only a few university-related Head Start programs in the nation. The program focuses on meeting the social, intellectual, emotional and physical needs of preschool children from income-eligible families.

Over the last 14 years, members of the SIUC community and the community at large have donated or provided funds to buy more than 33,000 books. The goal this year is to collect at least 2,500 new preschool books by Dec. 18.

In choosing a new book for young children ages 3-5, please consider the following:

  • Illustrations -- Large, clear colorful pictures that relate to the words.
  • Text -- The story should be easy to follow and understand.
  • Design -- The pages in the book should be uncluttered. The print should be large and legible.
  • Language -- Books written in both Spanish and English are acceptable.

Drop boxes for the books are at the following campus locations:

  • Chancellor’s office, Anthony Hall.
  • Law school library, Hiram H. Lesar Law Building.
  • Student Center Information Station, first floor.
  • Student Development Office, third floor, Student Center.
  • Student Health Services, adjacent to the Student Recreation Center.
  • Woody Hall, bursar’s payment area.
  • Colyer Hall.
  • Coach Chris Lowery’s office, Lingle Hall, adjacent to the SIU Arena.

A book drop location also will be set up at Murdale True Value & Just Ask Rental, 1915 W. Main St., Carbondale, and at First Southern Bank locations in Carbondale and Murphysboro.

In addition to bringing books, tax-deductible monetary donations to buy new books are also welcome. Checks should be made out to the SIU Foundation with “Book in Every Home” written in the memo area. The SIU Foundation address is 1235 Douglas Drive, Colyer Hall, Mail Code 6805, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901.