In March, officers and members of Wayne State’s student chapter of the American Library Association (ALA @ WSU) partnered with the Detroit Literacy Project and the Detroit Children’s Museum to fill WSU bags with books for local middle school children.  

The books were a mix of new items provided by the Follett Corporation, and gently used books that were donated to the Children’s Museum. The more than 200 tote bags will be distributed to students in grades 6-8 at Detroit’s Brewer Academy to celebrate March is Reading Month.  

In addition to providing space for the volunteering opportunity, Detroit Children’s Museum lead educator Charles Merrell filled bags along with the group which included ALA @ WSU president Megan Hakala, vice president Lindsey Crego, Jessica Biebuyck and Grace Moore. 

“ALA @ WSU was thrilled to help share the love of reading with Brewer Academy middle school students,” said Hakala. “This was the first in-person event that our student organization has held in more than a year. The opportunity to safely gather and create book gift bags thanks to pooled resources (and meet each other in real life for the first time) was very special.”