Worcester School Children to Receive New Library Books From Holy Cross Asian Student Group

WORCESTER, Mass. – Representatives from the Holy Cross student group ASIA (Asian Students in Action) will officially present children at Canterbury Street Elementary School (129 Canterbury Street, Worcester) with a set of new books for their library on Tuesday, Nov. 9. They will gather in Canterbury’s library, where the books will be on display, for photos at 10 a.m. All elementary students have returned photo release forms, signed by their parents.

With money garnered from various fundraising activities throughout the 2003–2004 academic year, including a Krispy Kreme donut sale, ASIA was able to purchase more than 30 books — all written by and about Asian-Americans and ranging in genre from novels, to short stories, to poetry. The initiative was undertaken in an effort to help young Asian-Americans learn about and feel comfortable with their identities.

Jennifer Chan '05, former ASIA president said, "We wanted to find a way to give back to the community while promoting awareness of Asian culture at Holy Cross and throughout Worcester. With the $500 we raised, we were able to provide high school and elementary children the opportunity to expand their knowledge of Asian-American literature and to encourage understanding and exploration of different cultures."

The books were donated earlier this fall to four Worcester Public Schools with significant populations of Asian-American students, including Canterbury Street Elementary School, Gates Lane Elementary School, South High School, and Doherty Memorial High School.