University of Scranton Hosts its Seventh Annual ‘Blessing of the Books’

          Students, faculty and staff at The University of Scranton are expected to donate more than 1,500 books to the seventh annual ‘Blessing of the Books’ program, which is organized by the Jesuit school’s Panuska College of Professional Studies and promotes literacy in the Scranton area. University community members who donate books are encouraged to write personal messages to the receivers about book why the books are special to them.

           The University of Scranton’s President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., will bless the donated books at a ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 3:30 p.m. in the lobby of McGurrin Hall.

           The blessed books are given to local and national organizations for distribution to children in need.

           Last year, faculty members, staff, and students collected and donated more than 2,000 books, which were distributed to the Lackawanna County Juvenile Detention Center and Lackawanna County prison, as well as local organizations in Scranton such as Education Outside The Classroom, United Neighborhood Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and several local daycares.

           Over the last six years, nearly 16,000 books were collected and distributed through this program.