College of Charleston is partnering with the Charleston County School District for Cougars Taking Action – the service component of Homecoming Week 2010. In celebration of Homecoming, the College of Charleston hopes to unite the campus and connect with the community while impacting elementary students in the downtown area.

Last year, test scores indicated that one out of every 10 Charleston County rising ninth-graders read at or below a fourth-grade level. To help promote children’s literacy, teams of College of Charleston students will read Where the Wild Things Are, prepare a writing prompt activity and join elementary students for lunch on Wednesday, February 3. The Center for Civic Engagement will be providing a classroom copy of Where the Wild Things Are to grades 1-4 at each participating school.

The College of Charleston will also host a campus-wide school supply drive to benefit Charleston County School District. Drop off locations will be located at the College of Charleston Center for Civic Engagement in room 203 of the Lightsey Center, the Hungry Cougar and in the Stern Center Lobby from February 1 – February 4.

Participating schools include Buist Academy, Charleston Progressive, Memminger Elementary, James Simons Elementary and Sanders Clyde Elementary. All downtown elementary schools in Charleston County School District were extended an invitation.

For more information or to donate school supplies, contact Megan Holt at Holtm@cofc.edu or (843) 953-5838.