Peoria (WEEK) – When Peoria Public Schools Board President Greg Wilson visited local juvenile detention centers in 2017 he saw a need.
The books in the centers were older and worn out. Wilson said he knew the importance of reading and access to literature.
“Just trying to fill the juvenile detention library with books that have substance. Books that can shift and open up that 3rd eye for our young folks,” Wilson said.
Wilson decided to start the ‘Mind Over Matter’ book drive. He wanted to bring important stories and books to the kids in the juvenile detention centers because books helped change his life.
“It took a book for me to actually realize and shape my mind to know that there’s more out there,” Wilson said. “I think a lot of that is what we’re dealing now with our young adults that we have in our community.”
He teamed up with 19 local churches for the drive. On Sunday New Life Christian Church put up the book drive box and they were ready to help bring books to kids.
“My desire is that we can begin to gather materials that are relevant to the situations that they are in and also connected to the future that they desire,” Pastor Ahmad Dawson of New Life Christian Church said.
Pastor Dawson said he wanted to change the minds of the youths and help them make better choices.
“You can be incarcerated and still be free, because your mind is never incarcerated,” Dawson said.
Wilson says he’s working to collaborate with several other organizations to help with the drive.
Books could be dropped off at New Life Christian Church until late October.
For those who wanted to help but did not have books, monetary donations could be sent to Wilson.
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