Beginning today, February 1, Phi Kappa Phi chapters across the nation will take part in the annual Phi Kappa Phi Book Drive competition. Established by the Society’s Council of Students, the competition aims to encourage and promote literacy in the communities and campuses served by Phi Kappa Phi’s chapters.

Interested chapters can participate in the competition by hosting a drive to collect books or funds to be applied toward literacy materials. To be eligible, the drives must take place any time between February 1 and April 30, 2018.

“The book drive competition is a fitting extension of the Phi Kappa Phi mission,” said Society Executive Director Dr. Mary Todd. “The competition provides an opportunity for our chapters to engage in service to others while enabling access to resources and opportunities that promote lifelong learning.”

The Phi Kappa Phi chapters that collect the most books or monetary donations throughout the competition will receive a “Little Free Library” to be placed at a location of their choice. The Little Free Library is a freestanding box where anyone can donate and borrow books in an effort to promote literacy throughout communities—a prize that fits well with the Society’s love of learning and literacy. In lieu of the Little Free Library, winning chapters can opt to receive a waived registration fee to attend the upcoming Phi Kappa Phi convention.

“This book drive has given our campus a way to take action on behalf of children who have had to face too many obstacles in their young lives,” said Jeanne Zarucchi, president of the University of Missouri–St. Louis chapter. “Over the past three years, we have shared the donations with children affected by the protests in Ferguson, children of ex-offenders, children receiving therapy as victims of abuse, and children involved in family court cases. It has been very moving to see the outpouring of generosity, and to know that so many people believe in the power of reading as an agent for positive change.”

The annual competition, now in its fifth year, has donated more than 35,000 books to organizations both locally and abroad. Organizations that have received donated books as part of the competition include schools, libraries, hospitals, correctional centers, tutoring and mentoring programs, shelters and more.

To learn more about the competition or to locate your local chapter, visit www.phikappaphi.org/bookdrive.