JOLIET – To promote and raise awareness about literacy, Senator Rachel Ventura recently hosted a month-long book drive to collect books for incarcerated individuals, collaborating with the Will County Center for Correctional Concerns.

“A common theme I noticed when visiting Stateville and other incarceration facilities was the deep desire and need for new books. There is a deep yearning to equip yourself with knowledge and to better one’s education for many. Oftentimes, incarcerated individuals are left with decades old books to re-read over and over,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “This book drive was coordinated to acquire unused and unwanted books from surrounding communities to donate new reading materials to promote literacy and reduce paper waste.”

After hosting the book drive from Feb. 14 to March 14, Ventura’s district office collected nearly 450 books to donate. The book drive promoted the importance of reading by spanning both National Library Lover’s Month in February and National Reading Month in March.

The Will County Center for Correctional Concerns, a local social service agency, is located within the Will County Adult Detention Facility. They offer numerous programs that aim to meet an individual's needs while fostering a smooth reentry back into society.

“Our agency greatly appreciates the senator's support in our library project. She recognizes that our educational efforts within the jail assist detainees in being more successful in returning to the community, thus making everyone in the community safer,” said Chris Alcorn, executive director of the Will County Center for Correctional Concerns. “Our library currently hosts approximately 3,000 books on all sorts of subjects and Senator Ventura's efforts have gone a long way to keeping that effort going. We are blessed with her support.”

Ventura plans to host another book drive in the near future and encourages residents to keep up to date with future events hosted by her district office by signing up for her newsletter at SenatorVentura.com.