Youth-Led Initiative Fights 'Book Deserts' with Over $1 Million in Donated Books
October 15, 2025
The LiTEArary Society, a volunteer-driven organization founded by Rania Zuri in Morgantown, West Virginia, aims to combat 'book deserts' by providing books to preschoolers in underserved areas, promoting early literacy.
Since its inception, the organization has donated over a million dollars' worth of books to more than 91,000 preschoolers across regions lacking access to libraries or bookstores.
High school junior Devan Chopra has volunteered with the organization for four years, helping distribute books like 'Pete the Cat' to children in Appalachia to foster early literacy.
The LiTEArary Society is youth-led, with chapters across all 50 states, and actively encourages children as young as 12 to participate, emphasizing the importance of early community service involvement.
Rania Zuri was recognized with a Daily Point of Light Award in 2022 for her dedicated volunteer work and efforts to address educational inequities through book donations and community engagement.
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