Clarksville, TN – As you shop for groceries, Halloween goodies and other items, remember to pick up a new book or two to donate to the annual Candy for the Mind project at Austin Peay State University.
For the 10th consecutive Halloween, the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (PKP) at APSU is collecting new and gently used children’s books for its Candy for the Mind project. Members of the campus and local community are invited to support this effort through donations of books or funds for the purchase of books.
Through this project, PKP distributed more than 2,500 books to community children during last year’s G.H.O.S.T. (Great Halloween Options for Safe Trick-or-Treating), the on-campus alternative for safe trick-or-treating. Currently, PKP has some books on hand for distribution during G.H.O.S.T., slated this year from 4:00pm-7:00pm, Sunday, October 28th but needs many more. Since the inception of the Candy for the Mind project in 2003, thousands of children who trick-or-treat at APSU have been thrilled to receive a book as a Halloween treat.
Dr. Dewey Browder, president of Phi Kappa Phi, said, “Reading and holding a real book in your hands is one of the great joys in life. Candy for the Mind encourages children to read and value that experience, and reading is at the heart of the PKP motto, ‘Let the love of learning rule humanity.’”
Dr. John Blake, this year’s chairperson, added, “Candy for the Mind is a unique chance for Phi Kappa Phi to help children develop a love of reading and learning, and to become scholars themselves.”
Collection boxes for new or gently used children’s books will be placed in the Woodward Library, outside Room B217 in the Sundquist Science Complex and in the Ann Ross bookstore. Additional boxes will be located in Harned Hall outside Room 142 and on the 3rd floor near the History & Philosophy Office. At the Fort Campbell Center, collection boxes will be placed in the lobby of the Austin Peay Center at Fort Campbell facility and at the APSU offices in the Army Education Center. Donated books can be placed in the receptacles through Friday, October 19th.
Financial donations also will be accepted. PKP members will use the money to purchase age-appropriate books. A check, made out to “PKP Candy for the Mind,” should be mailed to the PKP treasurer, Dr. Norbert Puszkar, APSU Box 4487, Clarksville, TN 37044.
For more information, please contact Dr. John Blake, Candy for the Mind chairperson, at 931.221.1476 or blakej@apsu.edu or Dr. Melony Shemberger, PKP Public Relations officer, at 931.221.7868 or shembergerm@apsu.edu.
