Troy University Panhellenic Council and SHORT The Squirrel Delivered Books Across the Community

Troy University’s Panhellenic Council partnered with SHORT The Squirrel, Alabama’s Literacy Mascot, for a two-day community book distribution on October 6 and 7. The project was part of an ongoing partnership aimed at promoting literacy and encouraging children to read while waiting in offices and clinics across Troy.

Earlier in the year, as part of Panhellenic Spirit Week, members from each of TROY’s six sororities collected hundreds of new children’s books. Those books were delivered to six local organizations—the Pike County Child Advocacy Center, Troy Resilience Center, Warren Behavioral Clinic, Kids First Pediatrics, Oak Park Dental, and Vision Center South of Troy.

Dr. Dee Bennett, SHORT The Squirrel Co-Founder and Troy University Associate Professor, said the effort represented the power of collaboration and leadership among Greek women. “The group project allowed our Greek women to collaborate and exercise servant leadership while helping our next generation of readers,” she said.

Each sorority had members present at the deliveries to help distribute books and engage with community partners. For many students, the opportunity to serve locally was one of the most rewarding aspects of the initiative. “It was super rewarding to be able to go and serve within the community because you really got to see it with your own eyes,” said Keeley Bulman, a member of Alpha Gamma Delta.

Community partners were equally excited to welcome the group. At Warren Behavioral Clinic, Office Manager Kanesha Burnett said, “We have a lot of kids who come here, so being able to offer them books to read while they wait is wonderful. These small moments of engagement help turn what can be an anxious wait into a positive experience. I hope we can continue collaborating on projects like this that truly benefit our visitors.”

Sidney Armstrong Kane, Coordinator of Student Engagement and Leadership, said the project highlighted the University’s shared values of service and education. “We loved partnering with SHORT The Squirrel because it gave our chapters a meaningful way to serve the community during Spirit Week and make an impact before recruitment began. This partnership not only supports literacy but also strengthens the connection between our students and the Troy community, which is at the heart of what Panhellenic life represents,” she said.

The two-day delivery marked another step in the growing partnership between Troy University’s Panhellenic Council and SHORT The Squirrel—turning waiting time into reading time for children across the community.