Coming: Feb. 21, 2009

As a UTPA alumni, you probably developed a greater appreciation for books during your time at the University. And most of you probably have stacks of books in your closet that you’ve read several times over. Instead of constantly leaping over those stacks or throwing them out, hold on to them for a little while longer because the UTPA Alumni Association will be holding a region-wide used book sale Feb. 21, 2009, in conjunction with the annual Homecoming events.

Currently, the steering committee is being formed to coordinate the entire event. “This is going to be a big event and we need a lot of volunteers to get involved,” Arnoldo Mata (B.A. ’80) said. “We need volunteers who can help us promote the event and get the word out. We will also need volunteers to help collect and sort books. Then, we will also need them during the sale. You don’t have to be an Alumni Association member or even an alumni to get involved.”

“We would like to form a few committees to help us. We would like to get a couple in the Upper Valley (McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr) and at least one in the Mid-Valley (Donna, Weslaco, Mercedes) and one in the Cameron County area. So, I really would like to ask for volunteers from those areas,” Mata said.

“This is going to be a fund-raising and community service event,” Mata said. “Many of our Alumni have wanted to get involved in some community service events. Through this sale, we want to promote literacy, especially in the area of children’s books. Instead of having these books thrown in the trash, we want to make affordable books more accessible to the public.”

“This will also give our alumni members a chance to get together for some fun and help the community,” said Debby Grant, UTPA director of Alumni Relations. “Anyone wishing to help out can contact us. We will be working with community organizations across the Valley and with area schools to promote the event.”

According to Mata, books of all types will be welcomed. “We will accept fiction and non-fiction in all categories. Children’s books, current fiction, bestsellers and cookbooks are always in high demand at used book sales.”

According to Grant, the volunteers and those wishing to donate books may contact the Alumni Relations Office at 956/381-2500. Arnoldo Mata can be reached at amataz@utpa.edu. Funds from the used book sale will be used for scholarships and other programs to benefit students at UTPA.

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