Jensen Garrett, a Pike Liberal Art School senior, is once again organizing a book drive for elementary students in local schools. Her purpose in organizing the book drive is that “a book is a gift that you can open again and again.”

“I believe that reading is incredibly important, not only to a child’s education but also for their imagination, Jensen said. “This is the third year for the book drive. Last year, about 300 books were donated. The books were given to children to take home for their own and teachers were provided new books for their classrooms. The students and teachers were excited to receive the books. Both years have been successful so, I’m organizing another book drive and hoping it will be even more successful.”

This year, Jensen has titled her book drive, “Turning Pages.”

“I think books have the power to leave a big impact on the lives of children,” she said. “I want to encourage them to read books, to turn pages and open doors.”

Jensen is asking for donations of new and gently used age-appropriate books for pre-K and first grade students. The books will be donated to Goshen Elementary School, New Life Christian Academy in Troy and W.O. Palmer in Greenville. There are about 100 students total in those three schools.

“We hope to get enough donations to purchase a new book for each of the students and enough book donations for each student to have one or two of their own and several for each classroom,” Jensen said.

Book donations may be made at the front offices of the two Piggly Wiggly stores in Troy.

“We will also gladly accept monetary donations that will be used to purchase new books for the ‘Turning Pages’ book drive,” Jensen said. Donations for books should be made out to Scholastic,

To support the book drive, this year Jensen has T-shirts for sale with all sales going to the book drive. The tees are $20 each and have the book drive logo, “A book is a gift that you can open again and again” with a book design.

T-shirts may be purchased at the Piggly Wiggly Troy locations.

“I greatly appreciate all donations to ‘Turning Pages’ and I look forward to the opportunity to give books to these young children,” Jensen said. “I look forward to reading to them and I’m dedicated to making sure the third year of the book drive is a success.