CAMDEN, S.C. — A table full of school supplies at Lugoff-Elgin Middle School means more than what you see. It’s all here to honor and remember teacher Kathleen Jones.
Jones retired last school year and passed away in September after teaching for more than a decade in Sumter & Kershaw counties.
"I think she would be really happy that we’re doing this for her,” Lugoff-Elgin Middle School 7th-grader Brady Shoemake said.
Shoemake and his friend David Lauderman decided to collect all the essential school items in her memory.
“She was just in all such a great person, and her way of teaching was so great and so helpful for all of her students,” Shoemake said.
The inspiration to collect these items for other teachers and students who can't afford them or are in urgent need came from the family's wishes.
“In her obituary, it said that they would like school supplies to be donated instead of flowers, so we decided to collect school supplies,” Lauderman said.
Intervention Teacher Rhonda Horton said having the Beta club students approach her and want to do this made the fundraiser much more special.
“That was big because that's the most important thing in life, is sharing what we have and loving other people," Horton said.
All of the items will be given to teachers who need them.
You can still donate supplies to Lugoff-Elgin Middle. Just drop them off at the front office.