It’s the time of year for giving. If you are seeking a charitable project to help with, you may want to consider Books & Bears.

Books & Bears is a holiday project that benefits University of Mississippi campus service workers, custodians and landscape crews.

These workers have been our “essential workers” in the UM family this year.

Due to COVID guidelines, this year’s Books & Bears celebration will not be in its traditional format.

As tokens of appreciation, participants will be given gift cards via a “drive-by” celebration. The goal is $6,000.

Donations will be accepted until Dec. 11. The event will take place Thursday, Dec. 17.

The program began more than 20 years ago under the leadership of Donald Cole, Ph.D. and Jan Murray, an art professor and associate dean of liberal arts.

School of Journalism & New Media Books & Bear representatives are Kathleen Wickham, Ed.D. and Patricia Thompson, assistant dean of Student Media.

How can you get involved?

Checks are accepted as monetary donations and are used to purchase bicycles. They should be written to Books & Bears. But they need them by Dec. 11 so gift cards can be purchased in time for the Dec. 17 event.

To make a donation:

Direct Deposit: Take directly too MS Federal Credit Union (ANY location). UM Books & Bears: Acct#:1001032546

OR

PayPal: umbooksbears@gmail.com

For more information, contact Jacqueline Certion, assistant director, FASTrack Learning Community: jcertion@olemiss.edu