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The books will be used to provide a starter kit for children that are selected to receive their own personalized bookshelf through A Bookcase for Every Child literacy program.
The program is designed to provide children in low-income families in the area with an oak bookcase personalized with their name. The program is the brainchild of Jim Davidson, a nationally syndicated columnist, who enlisted his friend Police Chief Randall Aragon to co-chair the committee that oversees the project.
Davidson said the bookshelves create a sense of ownership, which will encourage the kids to pursue reading throughout their formative years.
"Those of us who are involved in this Gently Used Book Drive are asking our citizens for books with wholesome content and good, positive stories that teach concepts and values that will inspire these children to achieve real and long-lasting success," Davidson said.
"Our goal is to help foster reading and learning as the primary focus of their young lives and to use and develop that marvelous mind that God has given to them."
Davidson said the illiteracy rates in youth have contributed to crisis in our nation that can be seen in the decline in the areas of character, ethics and moral values.
"The problems associated with poor character are so pervasive throughout our society that regardless of whether these adults, who at one time were children living in a low-income family, or children who were raised by prominent parents living in upscale neighborhoods, we must all pitch in and do our best to make a difference," he said.
"Children cannot succeed as adults if they don't learn to read, but we must teach character values at the same time we teach them to read, or they will just become a statistic."
Davidson said the 14 people who make up the A Bookcase for Every Child committee are all civic-minded individuals who possess a different talent that will facilitate the success of the program.
The committee will decide which children will receive the bookshelves. Committee members include Amanda Moore, director of Bailey Library at Hendrix College; Mary Boyd, director of Conway Housing Authority; and Bill Hegeman, who served as general manager of Conway Corp. for 32 years.
Books can be dropped off at the following locations: Log Cabin Democrat, 1058 Front Street; Cornerstone Bible Church, 1905 Dave Ward Drive; Head Start Central Office, 707 Robins Street; LifeWord Broadcast Ministries, 609 Locust Avenue; Chick-fil-A Restaurant, 115 E. Oak Street; Conway Chamber of Commerce, 900 Oak Street; United Way of Faulkner Co., 301 N. Museum Road; Smith Ford, 908 East Oak Street; First State Banks; First Security Banks; Simmons First National Banks and Regions Banks.
Those with a box of books to be picked up call 329-3891 ext. 100.
(Staff Writer Jeremy Glover can be reached by e-mail at jeremy.glover@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1253.)
As part of a new effort to promote literacy in the area's youth, a Gently Used Book Drive kicks off Monday with locations around the city that will be available to drop off children's books.