The 2011 Leadership Newton County class recently donated $145 to the Porter Memorial Branch Library to help fill out some of the branch's empty shelves.

The Porter Memorial branch, 6191 Ga. Highway 212, opened in January, but started with only 17,000 items instead of the 40,000 needed to fully stock its shelves.

The leadership program annually raises money in the form of playful fines handed out to class members during the 10-month program. Class members are raising additional money for the library and the 24 members are also holding book drives at their places of business.

Leadership Newton County is an annual program run by the Covington-Newton County Chamber of Commerce, which seeks to orient private and public leaders to all aspects of their community and help them network with each other.