WACO, Texas — With the community's help, the 6 News book drive surpassed the donation goal set by Literacy ConneXus, bringing in more than 1,700 books with still more boxes to count as the drive wraps up.
Transformation Waco Chief Communications Officer Josh Wucher said the original goal set forward by Literacy ConneXus was 500, but at the in-person book drive at Alta Vista Elementary School last week alone, there were over 700 books donated in total.
The drive ran from May 1 through May 14 and members of the community were able to donate at 14 different locations across the Waco area.
"We were initially asking for elementary through middle school age books, but we got a wide variety of picture books, novels, graphic novels and more to be able to give to students," Wucher said.
Wucher said thanks to the community stepping up for the book drive, the organization will be able to provide all Transformation Waco campuses with books over the summer.
"We're encouraging reading over the summer and the book drive is going to play a great part in enhancing that love of reading for our students by giving them books to have over the summer," Wucher said.
Wucher said they still need to look over the books that were donated to ensure that they are age and content-appropriate for students and in good condition before they'll be delivered.
Wucher said that the distribution process is still being worked out, but "the goal is to distribute as many books as possible to our students."
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