Books to Benefit announces $10,000 in literacy gifts, scholarships

Books to Benefit presents a check to Star Adult Literacy after its November book sale at 360 Wylie Drive in Normal. (Photo Books to Benefit)

 

By Neil Doyle

NORMAL – A local non-profit that holds book sales to raise money for local literacy programs has announced its gift totals.

Books to Benefit raised $7,000 for STAR Adult Literacy, $2,000 for YouthBuild McLean County, and funded two $500 scholarships for nontraditional students at Heartland Community College during its November sale.

“Our November 2019 sale was very successful, allowing us once again to increase our gift to STAR,” said Books to Benefit President Michelle Klatt.

“This gift gives us the means to provide material targeted to the specific educational needs and goals of our adult learners,” said Shelia Diaz of STAR.

The scholarships will help a nontraditional student pay for textbooks that are expensive, according to Klatt.

The organization is accepting donations of gently used books, CDs, and DVDs for its next sale June 11-14.  More information can be found at books2benefit.com.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…