MAGNOLIA, Ark.— Almost 200 books and $150 in craft supplies were donated by members of Sigma Tau Delta to the children’s library at Magnolia Housing Authority Tuesday afternoon.
The collections were the result of a project Sigma Tau Delta has been working on since fall 2006 and dubbed as “Ready to Read!” Nearly every book donated is on the Arkansas’ Advanced Reader lists at the elementary and high school levels, meaning the 15 to 25 children who attend the Magnolia Housing Authority in the afternoons after school will now be able to get ahead on their reading because of the availability of the books, said Rhonda Voss, resident initiative coordinator of the center.
“These books are a God send because the children only get to bring one book home from school and they get tired of reading it,” Voss said.
Sigma Tau Delta members raised more than $1,200 for the project last month at a “No Dinner” Dinner and Silent Celebrity Auction Gala. Donations for the project were made by celebrities who received letters from students explaining the need for books in the community. More than 35 donations were made, including very difficult to find items such as a signed Stephen King novel, explained Sigma Tau Delta sponsor Dr. Shannin Schroeder.
“These books and supplies represent a nearly year-long effort on the part of our organization, and we were ready to celebrate,” said Schroeder who is also an associate professor of English at SAU and director of the Writing Center.
Three members of Sigma Tau Delta along with Schroeder brought the crafts, the books and a large cake which colorfully announced “Ready to Read!” Tuesday afternoon and were met with warm smiles from the children.
Kayla Henderson, a member of Sigma Tau Delta, said it made her feel good to help provide some of the classics that are staples for any children’s library such as “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” “Charlotte’s Web,” “The Chocolate Wars,” “Brave New World,” and the Harry Potter and Little House on the Prairie Series.
“I just hope they enjoy these books as much as I did when I was a child,” said Henderson, a senior majoring in English from Maud, Texas.
As an honor society in English, Sigma Tau Delta’s charge is to promote literacy and the study of English in the local community. In addition to local service projects, student members also represent SAU and Magnolia annually in the national convention. Chapter President Micah Hicks, a senior English major from Springhill, Ark., is a student advisor and a voting member of the national board. Schroeder, also a member of the Sigma Tau Delta national board, is the chair for this year’s national convention, which takes place in Louisville, Ky.
