This fall, National Honor Society (NHS) joined forces with Interact Club and Key Club to organize a book drive. This trio accomplished a successful fundraiser through plentiful donations from students and staff throughout the district.
In the spirit of the holidays, there is no better thing to do than to curl up with a good book. But, sometimes kids aren’t fortunate enough to have a book readily at their fingertips. Thanks to the efforts of NHS, Interact Club, and Key Club, this wasn’t the case this holiday season.
“We are very excited for this, since it is the first time we have put this together,” Mrs. Lynne Kelly, NHS adviser, said.
The drive ran from December 3rd to December 14th. Southern Lehigh students and staff were encouraged to drop off new or gently used books in the bins found in the hallways and English classrooms.
“We got the word out by going to the intermediate school and Hopewell Elementary school,” Isabela Uribe, NHS president, said, “and posting posters in local businesses and throughout the high school.”
The book drive benefitted two organizations: Cops ‘n’ Kids and Teach for America. Cops ‘n’ Kids, based in the Lehigh Valley, strives to ensure that every child has the privilege of the wonders of books, and also to encourage positive relationships between cops and kids. Teach for America aims to collect funds to promote the importance of education in schools both locally and nationwide.
In order to raise more money, the clubs also put together a bookfair at Barnes and Noble at the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley. This event included a scavenger hunt, face painting and craft table, music, gift wrapping and “meet the Spartan.” With the help of the many Key Club, Interact Club and NHS members and volunteers, this bookfair was both entertaining and successful.
Overall, the book fair was a success. Books were piling up in the bins situated throughout the high school, and the book fair was buzzing with cheery activity. The clubs were able to raise $1,000 during the book fair, which went to Teach for America. They were also able to collect 3,000 books from the book drive which will be donated to Cops ‘n’ Kids.
“I really have to emphasize that it was not solely my idea, nor was this project solely my doing,” Uribe said. “The NHS officers, especially VP Miranda Rennie and adviser Mrs. Kelly, as well as Jake Cummings, Kyle Durics, and many volunteers were instrumental in the event’s success.”
