Book Program Raises Money

For students at Elizabethtown Area Middle School recently, reading books of interest after school was more than an enjoyable leisure-time activity. It also afforded the young readers an opportunity to give back to their community by supporting adult literacy initiatives in central Pennsylvania.

Through the school's annual "Buck a Book Week" program, the students raised $3,075 for the Literacy Council of Lancaster Lebanon (LCLL) region. LCLL exists to promote literacy and to help adults learn reading, math and English communication skills.

Now in its 10th year, the Buck a Book program involved students collecting donations and reading as much as they could during a one-week period. In total, students and staff members from the school have raised over $27,000 for the LCLL during the past 10 years.

This year's top fundraisers were sixth-graders Ocean Campbell and Sami Ramirez, who both raised $200. Other top fundraisers included eighth-graders Mehgan Rider and Courtney Orban, who raised $160 and $110, respectively. At the seventh-grade level, Ashley Hershey was the top fundraiser, having secured $120 in pledges, while Alecia Wagner, Austin Kuhn and Justin Drescher each raised $100.

Buck a Book Week was coordinated by Julie Reynolds, reading specialist and literacy coach for the school.

Elizabethtown Area Middle School's Buck a Book Week coordinator Julie Reynolds (left) recognizes top program fundraisers (continuing from left) Ashley Hershey, Sami Ramirez, Ocean Campbell and Meghan Rider.

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