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Full Story For Clinton High School Book Fundraiser this will be released on the Advertiser's website this Wednesday.

Clinton businesses raise money for “Book Buddies”
By Kathleen Brown
For the Advertiser

An event last Thursday brought a number of people to the Clinton Square, and the crowds had Steamers’ waitresses working double time and the Depot bookstore’s doors swinging. The two businesses opened their doors on the Clinton Square, to host an event benefiting Clinton High School’s summer reading program.

The English department at CHS heads the fundraiser, also known as “Book Buddies,” in an effort to raise money to buy books for students who cannot afford to purchase the required summer reading material.

“Fifty percent of the kids [at CHS] can’t afford these books,” says Bonnie Lyons, chair of the English department and organizer of the event.




Steamer’s owner Melissa Patton, who committed to donate a portion of the day’s profits to the program, was glad to see the large turnout that the event received. To maximize profits, Steamers stayed open through the dinner hours.

“This is the first time we have done anything with Clinton High.” Patton said, “It is a great opportunity to get new faces in here, as well as to help the community.”

The school’s English teachers hosted a school wide student advising session at the Depot. They talked with students individually and tried to help them decide which of the five books on the summer reading list they would most enjoy.

The English department chose the books to go along with this year’s summer reading theme, “What does it mean to be successful?”

The five books selected this year were “The Book Thief,” by Markus Zusak, “Homeboyz,” by Alan Lawrence Sitomer, “Quiet Strength,” by Tony Dungy, “Dreams From My Father,” by Barack Obama, and “Honey Baby Sweetheart,” by Deb Caletti.

“We tried hard to choose books from different genres,” said English teacher Jennifer Howard.

Several students, like Jamel Roberts, found it difficult to decide which of the five books on the required list to read.



“I will probably be reading either ‘The Book Thief’ or ‘Dreams From My Father,’” Roberts said. With three additional books in tow, he added, “I guess you could consider me a big reader.”

Dilemmas like the one faced by Roberts are just what the summer reading program is trying to encourage.

“We want to influence their [the student’s] thinking,” Lyons said, “We want to nudge them in the direction of reading.”

Clinton High School principal Robbie Roach agrees the need must be filled.

“It’s a great strategy to be dedicated to literacy, ” Roach said. “We need to improve literacy to improve everything.”

The money that was raised at Thursday’s event will go to buy copies of the books from the CHS summer reading list at the Laurens County Library. The library annually provides books for the high school library, and furnishes students with books over the summer when the school library is closed.

To donate books or money to the “Book Buddies” fund contact Kathy Hilton at Clinton High School at 864-833-0817.