It was more than a "bookmobile," when Knox College students and President Teresa Amott wheeled up to the local Boys and Girls Club of Knox County with a trailer-full of close to $770 in donated books, bats, balls and other recreational items.

The gift was part of the region-wide Midwest Conference SAAC Reads program, conducted by Student Athlete Advisory Committees representing NCAA Division III sports teams at each of the eleven member schools in the conference.

Amott and the Midwest Conference headquarters each donated $250 toward the campaign. Knox students raised additional funds at a series of events on campus, bringing Knox's total donation to $769.09.

"We talked with the leaders of the Boys and Girls Club about the books they wanted," said Chris Colburn, a sophomore swimmer from Jacksonville, Illinois and co-leader of Knox's SAAC Reads effort along with Julia Steen, a first-year swimmer from Elm Grove, Wisconsin.

"They wanted to focus on educational books, and they wanted a broad range of age groups, so we did that," Colburn said.  

"When we talked with our local Boys and Girls Club, we learned that their needs extended beyond books, so we decided that we would also donate things for recreation," Colburn said.

"The Boys and Girls Club is about furthering education," said Steen. "When kids have fun, they're also motivated to read."

Fundraising took place through concession stands at baseball, softball, track and tennis events, as well as soliciting donations in Knox's Seymour Union. The Midwest Conference matched gifts from the presidents of member colleges, up to a maximum of $250 per school.

Photos below: Students and President Teresa Amott head for the Boys and Girls Club with trailer of books and supplies; students bring items inside; talking with Jeannie Shelton at the Boys and Girls Club location; more photos on Flickr...