Special to the Tyler Morning Telegraph

Hubbard Middle School students are joining together to collect books to help restock school libraries at Southside Junior High and Denham Springs Junior High in Louisiana. Both campuses experienced significant damage due to recent floods.

“We are collecting books because these schools lost almost everything in their libraries,” Riley Jones, sixth-grader, said. “So, we want to help fill them back up.”

The book drive is led by students in the school’s Builder’s Club, a student-led organization of the Kiwanis Club that provides members with opportunities to perform services, build character and develop leadership skills. Approximately 200 Hubbard sixth, seventh and eighth graders participate in Builder’s Club.

Blanca Kellermann, also a sixth-grader, explained that the book drive is another example of the mission of Builder’s Club: to give back to the community and help people. Other projects and services the group performs throughout the year include canned food drives, ringing Salvation Army Red Kettle Bells, a shoe drive and helping care for animals at Pets Fur People.

Since the book drive began last week, Hubbard Huskies have donated almost 200 books. They hope to reach their goal of collecting 250 books when the drive ends Friday, Sept. 16. The public is also invited to participate by dropping off gently used or new books to the Hubbard Middle School main office located at 1300 Hubbard Drive.