Book drive for Katrina victims

Books for Katrina Kids continues through Nov. 15 Emily Hollingsworth, a junior at Gatlinburg-Pittman High School, is heading up a unique relief effort for families affected by recent hurricanes in the Gulf Coast region. Books for Katrina Kids will collect new and gently-used preschool books for families who have lost all of their children’s books in recent storms. Hollingsworth is teaming up with Christian Book Warehouse, Book Warehouse, and Family Book Outlet for the project, along with the UPS Store in Sevierville. “My family reads to my little sister all the time and when I saw pictures of the flooding in New Orleans I thought about all those children losing their favorite books,” Hollingsworth said. “I thought the parents would appreciate being able to read to their preschool kids during this tough time in their lives.” Hollingsworth approached a family friend at her church about sponsoring the project. Mike Beagan, district manager for Book Warehouse/Christian Book Warehouse/Family Book Outlet, was eager to get involved. “We want to encourage our customers to buy books for Emily’s project while they’re shopping in our stores,” Beagan said. “We’ll offer everyone a 30 percent discount on any of our books purchased for Books for Katrina Kids.” Once collected, the books will be sorted, packed and driven by truck to churches and relief organizations in the Gulf region. From there, they will be distributed to families in need. Books will be collected at several Sevier County drop-off locations until Nov. 15. Hollingsworth is in need of people with trucks or vans to haul the books from the drop-off locations to a central warehouse at the end of the project, and people willing to help sort and pack the books. She is also looking for someone with a truck who might volunteer to drive the books to the Gulf Coast. Cash donations to cover the cost of fuel would also be appreciated. People interested in helping can e-mail Hollingsworth at artistryco@aol.com. Drop-Off Locations in Sevier County Book Warehouse / Pigeon Forge On the Parkway at Traffic Light #5 Book Warehouse – Christian Book Warehouse / Pigeon Forge Pigeon Forge Factory Outlet Mall at Traffic Light #4 Christian Book Warehouse / Sevierville Winfield Dunn Parkway (Highway 66) Book Warehouse / Gatlinburg Mountain Mall