District Leads Community Book and Supply Drive 

(Oct. 29, 2009) – “Books Abroad,” a community-based drive to collect books and school supplies for the children of Nri, Nigeria, has moved into its second phase with 14 community businesses providing drop-off points, in addition to the 26 schools involved in the drive.

Community donation boxes are now at the following locations:

• Enterprise Bank/Katy, 722 Pin Oak Rd.
• Edward Jones/Katy, 888 Avenue D
• First Community Credit Union/Fry, 1705 Fry Road (inside Kroger)
• First Community Credit Union/Katy, 22150 Westheimer Parkway (inside Kroger)
• Huntington Learning Center, 21945 D Katy Freeway
• Johnny Nelson's NAPA Auto Supply Store/Katy, 808 Avenue B
• Katy Times, 5319 E. 5^th St.
• PC 1 Hair Salon, 3719 Fry Rd, Ste E
• Pediatric Dentist of Katy, P.A., 2840 Commercial Center Blvd., #101
• Prosperity Bank/Katy, 5733 2^nd St.
• Tradition Bank/Fry, 2117 Fry Rd.
• Tradition Bank/Grand Parkway, 1515 Grand Parkway;
• Tradition Bank/Katy, 550 Pin Oak
• Wells Fargo Bank/Katy, 5622 3^rd St.
• Katy ISD Education Support Center, 6301 S. Stadium Ln.

Elementary schools participating in “Books Abroad” are Creech, Fielder, Franz, Katy, Kilpatrick, Mayde Creek, Nottingham Country, Pattison, Williams, Winborn, Wolfe and WoodCreek. Junior highs sponsoring collection drives are Beckendorff, Cinco Ranch, Mayde Creek, McMeans, Morton Ranch, West Memorial and WoodCreek Junior Highs.

All of the district’s high school campuses - Cinco Ranch, Katy, Mayde Creek, Morton Ranch, Raines, Seven Lakes, Taylor and Miller Career & Technology Center – are also involved in the project.

“Books Abroad” is co-sponsored by Katy ISD, the Katy Rotary Club and the Amobi Okoye Foundation. The drive welcomes gently used books for school-age readers, educational games and materials, teacher resources and outdated but serviceable computers. Also on the “wish” list are new school supplies including paper, notebooks, pens and pencils, index cards and art supplies.  Crayons, tempera paints and other supplies that will melt in the heat of shipping are discouraged. A list of suggested supplies is included on the Books Abroad page at www.katyisd.org/community/Pages/BooksAbroad.aspx.

Collection of books and school supplies will continue through Dec. 11. All donations will be packed and shipped to Nri for an early spring distribution among Nri’s 10 schools: 2 high schools, 3 middle schools and 5 elementaries.

The Katy Rotary Foundation and the Amobi Okoye Foundation are 501(c)(3) organizations, so donations to Books Abroad are eligible for deduction in accordance with IRS guidelines. For questions about the program or information about contributions, hosting a donation box, or tax deduction receipts, email booksabroad@katyisd.org.