SIUC launches Book in Every Home campaign

SIUC today (Oct. 25) launched its 12th annual "A Book in Every Home" campaign.

Sharing the gift of reading - Erika Lowery, honorary chair of this year's Book in Every Home campaign, reads one of three books Wednesday to youngsters enrolled in the Carbondale Head Start center. Organizers hope to collect 2,500 new books appropriate for children 3-5 years old during the 12th annual drive that ends Dec. 8.

The goal of the drive is to collect enough books so each of the 433 children enrolled in seven area Head Start centers will receive 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.

Nationally recognized for its success, the SIUC Head Start program — now in its 36th year — is one of only a few university-related Head Start organizations in the country. The program focuses on meeting the social, intellectual, emotional and physical needs of preschool children from low-income families.

Over the last 11 years, members of the SIUC community and the community at large donated more than 27,000 books. Last year's drive collected enough books so that each Head Start child went home with three books. The goal this year is to collect at least 2,500 new books by Dec. 8.

For a second year, Erika Lowery, wife of men's basketball coach Chris Lowery, is chairing the campaign. The couple has four children, ages 12, 6, 5, and 2.

"It's a wonderful program," she said. "I'm honored to be chosen as chair for this year's program."

Lowery and her husband read with their children, who also love to read, she said. Jazmyn, who is 2, will get books off the shelf and asks to be read to, she said. Parents who read with their children regularly build another bond and closeness, she said.

"The more children read the more comfortable they are when reading at school," she said.

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

• Illustrations — Large, clear, colorful pictures that relate to 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.

Basketball fans can gain free admission to the Saluki women's and men's exhibition games at the SIU Arena on Sunday, Nov. 5, with the donation of a preschool book. The women's team faces Christian Brothers at 2:05 p.m., while the men's team plays Henderson State beginning at 4:05 p.m.

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

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

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 "Books 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.

- Pete Rosenbery