Whitmaniacs is holding a book drive until May 25 in departing principal Alan Goodwin’s honor. The books will be donated to underprivileged students in MCPS and a children’s library in Ecuador that the Manos Unidas club is helping build this summer.

The club dedicated the book drive to Goodwin because of his love of reading and his background as an English teacher.

“Books are a very easy, but very meaningful gift, and we should all aspire to be as generous as Dr. Goodwin,” Whitmanaics sponsor Nancy Mornini said.

Goodwin appreciates the gesture, and likes the idea of inspiring others to give back, he said. He especially enjoys the idea of a book drive because of his former job as an English teacher at Springbrook High School.

“I like the book drive very much,” Goodwin said. “I’m a reader myself, I taught English, and I like people to read. I like people to have easy access to free books.”

Students support the book drive because of its dual mission of charity and honoring Goodwin’s time at Whitman.

“I think it’s a cool idea to commemorate Dr. Goodwin’s time here by celebrating the positive role he’s had in our school careers, while giving back to those in need,” senior Alina Peterson said.

Students can donate books in bins at the main entrance, or students and their families can give a monetary donation online through Whitman’s school store.