By RORY MOORE
Tiger Media Network
A book drive for Grinnell schools was initiated by the Northwest Kansas Library System to replace books that were lost when an EF3 tornado touched down in Grinnell on May 18 and caused extensive damage. Since then, an outpouring of support from Kansans and beyond has followed after social media posts about the destruction went viral.
Newly donated books stored under posters with encouraging messages. 
Donated books stacked in Grinnell Middle School. 
A boarded window inside Grinnell Middle School. 
Grinnell was hit by an EF3 tornado that resulted in extensive damage to homes, businesses and school libraries. 
Damaged trees with debris. 
Household items and building materials scattered. 
The enter west side of Grinnell was destroyed. 
A destroyed building. 
Grinnell has received an outpouring of support from people across the country and overseas in the wake of its destruction. 
Many houses were demolished due to the severe damage sustained from the storm. 
A bent schoolyard fence next to Grinnell Middle School. 
A pile of debris.
Many have donated to the Hays Public Library and other organizations that send books to Grinnell.
“As soon as the NWKLS put that post out, things went crazy,” HPL Director Brandon Hines said. “They started getting responses from people all over the world because of the Instagram posts and TikToks. We almost immediately received 80 boxes of books.”
An estimated $1,500 has been donated to the HPL’s contribution to the drive.
“We ask for free will offerings,” Friends of HPL President Cindy Lightle said. “People were incredibly generous. They knew it was for Grinnell,and they’d ask how much. I’d tell them $1,000, but they’d put more money in the bucket so they could really support Grinnell.”
Sarah Miller, an associate professor of Teacher Education at Fort Hays State, is leading FHSU’s support for the town by raising awareness of the cause.
“I’m planning to carry on the book sale for the Friends of the Hays Public Library by having tables set up at the Bazaar on the Bricks,” she said. “I’ll also be collecting free-will donations since there are lots of good uses for the books. I’m hoping we can make even more money to add to the amount they got here so we can give Grinnell a nice check.”
Some FHSU employees from Grinnell have donated to help their community.
“They were so excited that we were doing this,” Miller said. “So, they immediately bought over roughly 10 boxes that were donated from the university.”
Judy Zerr-Schamberger, treasurer for the Friends of HPL, is also from Grinnell and is thankful for the support that her hometown has received.
“This pretty much hits home,” she said. “I have a lot of family who live out there, and they lost their homes. Myself and my siblings went to High School in Grinnell and graduated from there before it became the Middle School. Its south side is where you see all the damage. Everything may have been damaged, but it’s repairable.”
Amy Anderson, the grade school secretary and librarian at Grinnell United School District 291 is overwhelmed by the extent of support for her town.
“It’s crazy how many people are giving,” she said. “We’ve had people from other countries donate books for our library, and authors donate sets of books they’ve written. We’ve gotten stuff from Switzerland, the U.K., Canada, Germany and a few other countries. It’s been amazing since we got a lot of help.”
Anderson was in her home when the tornado tore through Grinnell, and while her house was undamaged, she had a harrowing experience.
“You could hear the roar,” she said. “We say it sounds like a train. I didn’t think it sounded like that, but you definitely could feel the pressure and the air. It was kind of scary.”
The entire west side of the town was destroyed, including homes that had to be bulldozed or are scheduled to be demolished. Nevertheless, Grinnell residents appreciate the charitable actions since the storm.
“On the first day of the book drive, we got 66 packages,” Anderson said. “We thought, ‘Wow! That’s crazy!’ The following day, we got 585 Amazon packages, and then, there was a day we got 304.”
The concern for Grinnell from many, nationally and internationally, makes Anderson realize how fortunate her community is.
“It restores faith in humanity,” she said. “It’s sad that it takes a [natural] disaster to do that, but it’s good to know that people come together when you need it. So, everybody here is pretty humbled.”