BRIGHT FUTURE: Cathedral High School Key Club creating library for Children’s Home

Published 12:05 am Thursday, March 21, 2013

Jay Sowers / The Natchez Democrat — Pepper Taylor, center, a member of the Key Club chapter at Cathedral High School, sorts through boxes of donated books with fellow club members on Wednesday afternoon.

Jay Sowers / The Natchez Democrat — Pepper Taylor, center, a member of the Key Club chapter at Cathedral High School, sorts through boxes of donated books with fellow club members on Wednesday afternoon.

NATCHEZ —The Cathedral High School Key Club hopes to turn the children at the Natchez Children’s Home into bookworms.

Club members want to create a children’s library at the Children’s Home to give the children more educational resources.

The club is made up of grades nine through 12 and is sponsored by religion teacher Jean Benoit. The club has collected approximately 100 children’s books in hopes of starting a library soon.

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“They have been working at the Children’s Home hosting parties and doing fundraisers for years,” Benoit said. “They have become aware of their needs and decided to create the library.”

Key Club president Sarah Beth Willard said she is pleased with the community’s support of the club’s efforts.

“We started with books from our homes and got others involved,” Willard said. “So far it has grown community-wide and has become very successful.”

First Presbyterian Church and First Baptist Church have helped collect books for their drive, as well as the Cathedral middle and elementary schools.

Natchez Children’s Home Director Nancy Hungerford said she is grateful for the student’s hard work.

“Because children love to read and be read to, we cannot have enough books at Natchez Children’s Home Services,” Hungerford said. “A growing library at 806 N. Union St. is an excellent way to positively affect young lives.”

Anyone that wishes to donate used books to the cause may drop-off at the Cathedral High School and Cathedral Elementary School front offices.