On May 4, 2007, a vicious tornado ripped through Greensburg, Kansas. Ninety-five percent of this city of 1500 people was completely destroyed by the storm. Months later, schools reopened in trailers, and the town is still rebuilding over a year and a half after the tornado. There is little space for books in these improvised schools, but when a suggestion to help came in to Kids Need to Read, we responded.
Forty books, worth $540, were sent to help this city rebuild its high school library just in time for the 2008 school year.
We later received this update from Heather Powell, the librarian at the Greensburg High School:
Just wanted to let you know we received the books that you sent. Thank you all so much!!! We just want you all to know how very much we appreciate your donation and your kindness!! Thanks for thinking of us.
Kids Need to Read is grateful to Jill Stevens, who pointed us toward the Greensburg need, and we are honored to be helping this community to rebuild after such a terrible tragedy. Keep an eye out for future KNTR donations to Greensburg’s elementary school. They asked us to hold off on donating to them due to lack of space, but you can bet that Kids Need to Read will be there to help when things change!
