As many of you may know Grinnell, Kansas was hit by an EF3 tornado on Sunday, May 18 causing extensive damage to homes and the elementary school.
This tiny community of around 260 residents noted that two of the most vital resources lost were the classroom and library books. They reached out online asking for any donations of gently used children’s picture books, chapter books or young adult materials for their school library and for classroom libraries. In addition, they asked northwest area public libraries to send any donations of gently used books they could by courier.
Through social media last week, word reached Parsons USD 503, located 380 miles away. Parsons residents recently marked the 25th anniversary of the quarter-mile wide, F3 tornado that struck their city on April 19, 2000, destroying 30 city blocks, and moderately damaging 30 to 60 more as it traveled 12 miles on the ground from southwest of the city northeast into Neosho County.
Knowing personally the devastation a tornado brings to a community, and the struggles the residents face, some USD 503 staff and community members made known their desire to help the school in the small town of Grinnell. A few staff stepped up and within three days, eight boxes of gently used library and classroom books were gathered.
Parsons Public Library Director Samantha Graven added to that two bags of books her daughter Zoey donated after cleaning out her home library.
Given the large number of books collected, and the cost to mail them, a USD 503 staff member’s husband volunteered to drive the books the six hours to Grinnell and deliver them personally. The books will arrive today.
School will resume in three short months and although they are not even sure what building they will be able to safely use as a makeshift school, they were hoping they could have books waiting for the children when school resumes.
Now they will, thanks to all those who reached out to help.
NOTE: To see photos of Grinnell, visit: https://www.kwch.com/2025/05/19/extensive-cleanup-effort-underway-after-ef3-tornado-strikes-grinnell/