A little bit of hard work never hurt anybody.

At least it doesn't hurt Charles Henderson High School junior Sarah Butler.

Butler actively serves on the Library Teen Board with upward of 20 other high school students.

As a board member, Butler is responsible for advocating literacy.

So far this year, the Teen Board has donated LeapFrog books and literacy packets, organized Books for Babies and sponsored book drives.

This summer she will continue to volunteer her time to summer reading programs.

&uot;It's very important,&uot; Butler said of her volunteer work.

&uot;It shows that you care about people and that you really want to spend time with them.

They know that you're not just going to donate money.&uot;

This is Butler's first year on the Teen Board.

She joined because of what she had heard about it through word of mouth.

&uot;My sister Karen was on it and I heard about the things that they did,&uot; she said.

&uot;It's a good way to get to know people.

And, I like kids and we get to work with kids a lot.&uot;

If working with the Teen Board was all Butler did, she probably wouldn't know what to do with her spare time.

She is also active in the drama club, the Spanish club, a Christian club, the National Honors Society and her church youth group at Bush Memorial Methodist Church.

Lately, her time has been precious.

&uot;I spend probably 15 hours a week on my activities,&uot; she said.

&uot;(Play) practices are starting to take up a lot of time.&uot;

Butler plays the clever Alma Threedle in CHHS's play &uot;While the Lights Are Out.&uot;

Her character is an assistant to the real super sleuth, who is somewhat of an airhead.

&uot;She's really the brains of the whole thing,&uot; Butler said.

She said sometimes her to-do list is long and exhausting.

&uot;You can get kinda burned out with the play and stuff,&uot; she said.

&uot;But it all pays off in the end.

When you have fun volunteering stuff, you don't mind it as much.&uot;

Butler said being involved with an organized group can give teens a sense of belonging and help them put their time to good use.

&uot;A group activity is good because it helps you make friends and meet people you might not see otherwise.

I think it's a confidence booster to be part of a group,&uot; she said.

She added that it is nice to be a part of something &uot;you can have in common with other people.&uot;

Butler said being a member of the Teen Board has helped her meet other students her age she might have never known.

&uot;We have members from different schools,&uot; she said.

&uot;Normally I don't see Pike County or Goshen students.

But doing this I got to meet them.&uot;

She also said the Teen Board has helped unify students who would otherwise be almost isolated from one another.

Despite the time and effort her activities require of her, Butler has no regrets.

&uot;Sometimes you prefer to have time to yourself, but it's not too much of a sacrifice if you enjoy doing it.&uot;