Literacy group takes unique approach to fundraising

The Trident Literacy Association has come up with a fund-raiser idea that may raise the ire, at least initially, of Lowcountry readers: a book burning.

The Lowcountry Book Burning is the brainchild of Trident Literacy board member April Parker as a way to highlight the high rate of illiteracy in the Lowcountry, where an estimated 15 to 20 percent of adults are illiterate.

Parker's thoughts were these:

The rate of illiteracy is so high that it won't be long until no one will be left to read books, which will just take up space, become eyesores and fire hazards. So why not just burn them?

"When she (April) first presented it (to the board)," recalls Eileen Chepenik, Trident Literacy's executive director, "she was met with dead silence. Everyone knows what burning books suggests. There was a chance the whole thing could backfire."

But as the board continued to talk about it, they warmed up to the idea.

The recently-launched campaign is primarily internet based - www.lowcountrybookburning.org and on Facebook - and gives opportunities for people to "save" their favorite books from the flame. One book costs $25, two $40, three $50 and so on. Those saving books have an opportunity to write a comment on why.

Read more about this story in tomorrow's editions of The Post and Courier.