Julia Sand/Winonan

Winona State University’s Wenonah Players are holding a semester-long book drive for underprivileged youth around the world.

Club president, senior Holly Anderson, said this is the club’s first year holding the book drive, but it’s already off to a great start.

“It’s to promote literacy around the world. We thought it would be a great opportunity to help kids who aren’t as privileged,” Anderson said.

World Wide Book Drive (WWBD) contacted Anderson, asking if the club would like to be a part of a book drive. Anderson proposed the idea to the club and all accepted.

WWBD sent boxes to the club; the club is in charge of collecting books, and WWBD covers shipping costs and distribution to others around the world, according to Anderson.

“So far we have collected 1,200,” Anderson said, and that was before promoting the idea to students.

Abbey Hammell, Secretary of Wenonah Players, said she alone donated 130 books.

“We also got around 400 books from our library and other schools from the homes of members of our clubs,” Hammell said.

Anderson said the club initially set a goal for 400 books. Since in first month they collected well over that amount, the goal is now 2,000.

The club is still waiting to hear back from other schools and off-campus sites around Winona.

Everyone is encouraged to donate any type of book, but textbooks under 5 years old and in good condition are most preferred.

The Wenonah Players have a box for donations in the Green Room in the Performing Arts Center (PAC 137).

“It would be awesome if we had more people to donate,” Hammell said. She noted that schools are a good resource for old textbooks.

More boxes will be placed around campus soon.

WWBD also offers the book drive as a fundraiser, explained Anderson. Any textbooks under five years old and in good condition will be rewarded with $1.00. The club can choose to keep that money for their club or donate it back to WWBD.

Wenonah Players will donate the money raised to WWBD to help cover shipping and other costs.

Winona State’s oldest student club, the Wenonah Players also takes pride in doing other volunteer work, such as Adopt-A-Block and Project Success.

Senior student Molly Daun, the club’s vice president, said last year was the club’s first time working with Project Success, a company that helps kids find the chance to do “artsy” things.

“We do a lot of fundraisers, and do plays like the 24 Hour Play, all to raise money to give back to them,” Daun said.
According to Daun, the Wenonah Players held a clothing sale the week before Halloween, which totaled more money than last year’s fundraisers combined.

Contact Julia at [email protected]