A book drive put on by Bright Star Books encourages Kent State students to donate children’s books to go to children in need in the greater Akron area.

The drive started Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and ends Oct. 27 at 9:00 p.m. Donations can be dropped off in a bin in the Kent State Library foyer.  

“Sixty percent of children who live in poverty in Summit County don’t have a single age-appropriate book,” Kait Laux, the program coordinator for Bright Star Books, said. “The mission is to promote a culture of reading by increasing access to ownership of books amongst limited-resource children.”

Bright Star Books was founded in 2014. Since 2015,  Laux said Bright Star Books donated about 150,000 books.

Book drives provide Bright Star Books with its main source of books for distribution, and then the organization is able to provide books through partnerships with Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clinics.

“(WIC clinics) serve pregnant women and their children up to the age of five who fall below the poverty line,” Laux said. “Twice a year, when the kids come in for the certification, we give them a bag of five books to take home with them.”

Bright Star Books also partners with Akron Public Schools where it host free book fairs.

Laux emphasized the importance of Kent students getting involved with this book drive and the organization.

“Kent State students could come volunteer for us if they wanted to see where the books are actually going to,” Laux said. “They’re welcome to go to our website; they’re welcome to reach out to me if they’re interested. The great thing about Bright Star is it is such a community effort right here in our community.”

Anna Smith is a general assignment editor. Contact her at [email protected].