After a regular day at Central Elementary School on Friday, April 19, the students return to school Saturday to see the building transformed overnight. Inside a carnival will have taken over the school, complete with a bounce house, face painting, food and games all supported by English Honor Society’s annual book carnival. Donations and volunteer work goes towards giving books to children at a school that can’t afford them. English teacher Wendi Spurgeon is one of the EHS sponsors and said she sees the book fair as an important event.

“It’s our biggest community service project that we do every year, and it bands our club together,” Spurgeon said. “It promotes literacy in our community, and it helps out families who can’t afford to buy books. It gives our students a chance to work with students that are in need right here in our community.”

Due to a lack of supplies and books, senior and president of EHS Sam Karnes, said that the carnival was almost cancelled this year. This year the number of books donated so far is about 1,200 compared to the usual 5,000 or 6,000 books in the past. Spurgeon said she believes one reason for the lack of supplies is the transition into the digital world.

“I think we’re in a digital divide where parents of our students are now buying their kids tablets and E-Readers and not books, so I don’t think people have as many books to donate anymore,” Spurgeon said.

But the carnival is going on as a scheduled and students can still make donations all week in Spurgeon’s room, W107, until fourth period Friday, April 19.

“Even if everybody brought one book, that would be 3,000 books,” Spurgeon said.

The biggest thing the club needs is the donation of books. Students can also donate bottled water and snacks for the carnival.

“We have people to run it, and we have enough leadership,” Karnes said. “It’s just having what we need there so that it’s a successful day and it’s fun for everyone… We’re just trying to make it where it’s best for the kids.”

Despite the decrease in donated supplies and books, Karnes said he believes this year’s book fair will be a successful one. He said this is what EHS works towards the whole year and that people have been motivated to participate in this important event for a good cause.

“It’s basically the climax of what we work towards for the entire EHS,” Karnes said. “It’s important to me because I did it last year, and I know what it’s like. I know it’s pretty impactful. It’s good to see the kids having a good time.”