Spartanburg High's Keystone Club teaches students job skills during their bread sales

Members of the Spartanburg Keystone Club are learning about leadership and work skills as they operate a small business outside of Bellews Market.

The students are selling bread donated by Highland Bakery every Friday and Saturday this summer at the market located at 240 Garner Road.

The Keystone Club is open to all students interested in improving their academics, learning leadership skills, preparing for jobs, and meeting local business people.

The bread sale teaches students business experience along with allowing them to earn hourly pay.

"We try to do the service side of things, offer to bring the buggy back or help carry things to their car. It gives them (students) the opportunity to help the community and work with people," said Spartanburg High School Assistant Principal David Lawson. "It's something they're going to have to do once they graduate, regardless of what career they choose."

Lawson is a sponsor of the Boys and Girls Keystone Club. He works with Chris White, an English teacher at Spartanburg High, who is also a sponsor that focuses on the club's student council.

The Keystone Club has been selling bread for four years, but they had to stop for a while because of the pandemic.

"They [the kids] work together as a team," Lawson said. "We always tell them to not lose focus on what they're doing. It's all about presentation, courtesy and putting together a small business."

Lawson said the Keystone Club has allowed its members to learn more about themselves.

"It gives them the opportunity to come out of their shell," said Lawson. "As educators, we believe in our youth. We tell them all the time that whatever they set their mind to, they can do. Just take that first step."

Teens at work

The teens of the Keystone Club have enjoyed their experience and have found the bread sale to be beneficial to them, along with the community.

Many people went inside Bellews Market to buy fresh produce and ended up leaving with loaves of handmade bread. The teens happily helped their customers and even offered to help carry their purchases to customers' cars.

Andrea Garcia, a senior at Spartanburg High School, said the bread sale has encouraged her through the people she has met.

"I have met a lot of great people," Garcia said. "A lot of people have come and encouraged us on our careers. I had one lady give me advice on my career choice, and it was really inspiring."

Nalani Manigault, a sophomore at Spartanburg High School, has gotten to know more of her classmates since working at the bread sale.

"Since it [the club] is based at my school, there have been people I've seen around but didn't really know them," Manigault said. "It's been nice to get to know them more. I have made more friends who are rising juniors and seniors also."

The students also understand the importance of charity as customers have made donations to the Keystone Club.

Alexander Tufino, a sophomore at Spartanburg High School, enjoys serving the school and helping the club.

"My most memorable moment was when I got a $50 donation a few weeks ago," Tufino stated. "I'm serving my school by helping bring money to the Keystone Club."

If you want to check out the bread sale, go to Bellews Market every Friday and Saturday this summer. The Keystone Club sells bread from 9 a.m. through noon.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Spartanburg High Keystone Club learns job skills during bread sale