The UW Oshkosh English Club organized a book drive to raise funds for local elementary school children. The drive will last through spring semester and gather age-appropriate books to donate. According to Michael Piasecki, a representative of the club, they have been planning the book drive over the course of the semester, but it began last week. The club plans to turn around and sell the donated books at a reasonable price based on their condition. The books that are not sold during the book drive will be sold to Half-Price Books. “What we raise through the drive will be put toward buying a selection of books for the children of [the Oshkosh area] elementary schools,” Piasecki said. Piasecki said the elementary schools they will be donating to include Oaklawn Elementary, Merrill Elementary and Washington Elementary. Ryan Hamann, president-elect of the English Club, said each of the schools provided the club with a list of books that their library is short on, so the money they raise will go toward the types of books specified. “Specifically, one school mentioned middle school-level reading books for their fourth and fifth graders, one said books for their third through fifth graders, and the third that I contacted said any donations would be helpful,” Hamann said. The English Club came up with the idea of a book drive because it was looking for different ways to get involved within the Oshkosh community. Hamann said he hopes the book drive is a success because it’s something he would like to continue in the future. Oshkosh senior Sarah Germer said she had noticed the boxes in Radford and thought the book drive was a great idea for this time of year. “With other people getting rid of books they may have purchased for the semester, it’s a great time to clean out your own closet,” Germer said. Students can donate any unwanted books to the boxes in Radford Hall above the Health Center. Contact English Club representatives Michael Piasecki and Ryan Hamann or English Club President Shane Connor with any questions about donating or volunteering.