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BY GARY HENDERSON Talk about a shopping spree. It took several hand carts to carry out the more than 400 children's books the Need to Read Book Club purchased one afternoon last week at the Spartanburg Barnes & Noble. And the novel thing about it, none of the books were for club members. All the books were donated to homeless or needy children who come with their parents for a free lunch each day at the Soup Kitchen on North Church Street. "It encourages these kids to read," said 13-year-old Emily Conrad, the 8th grade Spartanburg Day School student who founded Need to Read. "This is the first new book many of these kids ever had." The Soup Kitchen event was in keeping with the club's motto - "It's All About Teens Making A Difference Through Reading." Spending time with a book was the way Need to Read members were able to put together enough money-to make the purchase. The more they read the more money they received for this year' book buy. Club members got someone to sponsor them for every page they read, or they asked for donations. "We raised about $1,800 and had some left over from last year," Emily said. "We read 20,000 pages, and that was outside school work." Barnes & Noble management took 25 percent off the purchase price. This was the second year Need to Read members made a visit to the Soup Kitchen to hand out books. "The kids pick two books (each) and the rest are distributed throughout the summer," Emily said. Club members are talking about going back this summer to hand out books. Two special guests, Mayor Bill Barnet and Clifford The Big Red Dog, visited with the kids at the Soup Kitchen and passed out books. Barnet said Emily is impressive, not only with her work with Need to Read, but also as a singer. "She can belt out the National Anthem like Whitney Houston," Barnet said. "(Emily) is well beyond her years. She has a very supportive family. It's fun to watch her in action." Barnet said people don't have to be an adult to make a difference in a community. "(People like Emily) attack the root of issues that need improvement," Barnet said. "It doesn't matter if they're 13 or 83 - like those volunteers at the Soup Kitchen" Emily's mother, Catherine Conrad, 40, helps with book club meetings and reads the books ahead of members, to make sure they're "appropriate" for the 13 and 14-year-old middle school students. June 2-4, Barnes & Noble will host a Need to Read Book Club "Summer Reading Bash." There'll be displays of books from Spartanburg County school districts' summer reading lists. Storytellers, live music and giveaways will be featured. And as a reminder of city's ongoing founding anniversary that's underway, there'll be 175 free frappuccinos and café treats for kids who come to the event. Conrad said the club is a bit of a mother-daughter activity but she said it was Emily who started Need to Read. "It was Emily's idea, she just didn't know how to bring it about," Conrad said. "She was 11 at the time." Is Conrad proud of her daughter? "Can you tell? she said, with a smile. Contact Gary Henderson at 266-3324 or ghenderson@thespartanburgjournal.com
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