Book Buddies, a service organization promoting literacy and reading to Appalachian youth, intertwines literacy and helping out the community.
Book Buddies is an Ohio University organization that combines community engagement, creative activity, literacy promotion and the overall joy of reading. The service element is centered around promoting literacy to Appalachian youth.
Kennedy Porter, treasurer of Book Buddies, shares the organization’s mission.
“Our club overall is a literacy organization in and out of campus,” Porter said. “On campus, we're promoting meetings where we all get to talk about books and tropes and authors and all the good stuff. We do little crafts; those are just for fun. And then off campus, we're a service organization.”
The organization’s service efforts focus on making books and education more available to the Appalachian area. Book Buddies looks to take students’ interests in reading and turn them into an opportunity to serve others.
Last semester, one of Book Buddies’ service events included collecting books that were being thrown away by local libraries and donating them to rural Appalachian schools and offices. This year, they hope to work with Passion Works Studio to create little libraries in the area.
Along with service, Book Buddies allows students to take part in a laid-back book club. Book Buddies meets biweekly starting Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Lindley Hall.
On opposing weeks, the club hops around coffee shops. Members visit different coffee shops on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the off weeks. Coffee hops give new and old members the opportunity to connect outside of meetings and to get to know the campus better.
Kaitlyn Whaley, founder and president of Book Buddies, is always encouraging those interested to give Book Buddies a chance.
“Be on the lookout for us at random coffee shops on a Saturday; you can just come in and join us,” Whaley said.
For those interested, Book Buddies meeting updates and recaps can be found on their Instagram
Book Buddies continues to create opportunities for service around campus and is always looking for ways to increase engagement and to grow their presence at OU.
Some OU Bobcats have already noticed the impact of organizations like Book Buddies and how they can create a space to build relationships based on shared interests and service.
Macy McHenry, a sophomore at OU, shares her thoughts on organizations like Book Buddies having the space to grow and help the community.
“I think going to Ohio University, there’s so many different clubs and organizations you can join,” McHenry said. “I think it gives everyone a place to find your opportunity, and I think having this club is great.”
As Book Buddies continues to grow, the organization hopes to create more opportunities to serve the surrounding Athens community through the shared love of education and reading.
