The plight of public schools in the wake of the destruction from Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines in the fall of 2013, has motivated education students at the University of Lethbridge to help rebuild school libraries by organizing a book drive from now until March 1.

Alana Millard, director of volunteer experience for the Education Undergraduate Society (EUS), knows how desperately books are needed after she went to the Philippines with Dr. Glenda Bonifacio’s field study course last summer. She visited a classroom and students came running to show her the books that had been sent to the school through a non-profit organization established by Bonifacio in 2014. The ReadWorld Foundation has sent used books and school supplies to some affected schools thanks to donations from both individuals and community organizations.

“You could see the schools really need them,” says Millard. “When I planned a fundraiser for the EUS, it was the first thing that popped into my mind.”

The EUS is collecting used books in good condition and suitable for students in the elementary and middle school grades and for university students. People are invited to drop off their books to the boxes outside the EUS office, located in Turcotte Hall, TH368A.

“We’re also looking for monetary donations because it costs $90 to ship a box of books to a school over there,” she says.

Anyone who’d like to make a cash donation is invited to send an email to edu.eus@uleth.cato make arrangements.

Millard says the EUS chose to work with the ReadWorld Foundation because no administration fees are involved. All the books will be sent to schools in the Philippines and cash donations will go toward shipping costs or to buy school supplies.