Boxes of free books wait in the Seward Memorial Library for Read Aloud Nebraska to distribute them to children who need them.
Though the books may be free, they still have to reach their destination. That sometimes poses a problem for Read Aloud Nebraska.
Becky Baker of Seward Memorial Library said FirstBook.org provides “free books for those who need them.” FirstBook gets copies from the publishers, and organizations wanting to distribute the books usually have to pay postage to get the books.
But, if that organization can pick the books up, they’re free. One of the most recent distributions was in Kansas City.
Baker called the Seward Kiwanis, who volunteered to rent a truck and pick up the books. She called Daws Trucking, who wasn’t able to help, and then tried Seward Motor Freight.
“We were told about the program first and its impact across the state,” Erich Helge of SMF said. “If it’s for children and can get them to read more, it’s fantastic.”
SMF sent a driver to Kansas City to pick up 119 boxes of books. Each box is about the size of a box of copier paper, Helge said, and they took up about 15 feet of a 53-foot trailer.
“We were happy to be able to take that many,” he said.
Pat Miller, who has 10 years’ experience in over-the-road trucking, was the driver for this transport.
“He was thrilled to be able to do it,” Helge said.
“That was unexpectedly fantastic,” Baker said.
Helge said SMF has done other transportation projects like this and chooses quality employees as a reward to them for their work.
“Their generosity is above and beyond,” Baker said.
Once the books got to Seward, volunteers from Seward Kiwanis helped unload and move the boxes into the library.
Read Aloud Nebraska conducts distributions in both the fall and the spring. Seward Memorial Library has been a distributor since about 2008. Since Read Aloud Nebraska began its distribution, it has given away more than 27,600 books to children who need them.
Baker said Seward Motor Freight has already volunteered to pick up more books if needed.
“Maybe we can do it again,” Helge said. “We have trucks all over the country.”
