The unprecedented rains of Tropical Storm Harvey continue to downpour over a beleaguered southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana, but a relief effort in Jefferson City has already begun to come together with boxes of books.
Books might not be as vital now as food and water in the hard-hit city of Houston. With people still being rescued from flooded homes by boat and helicopter, it's an open question of how and when donations from a book drive sponsored by a Jefferson City Public School librarian will get to Texas.
As a librarian, though, JCPS's Melanie Thompson knows about the power of books, and on the way to work Monday, she thought of a way to help provide some relief for people affected by Harvey.
"When you're in a traumatic situation, books can take you somewhere else and be a safe place; also that keeps kids learning when they're not in school," Thompson said.
The librarian at Thorpe Gordon Elementary School has coordinated a book drive every school in the district will take part in.
The drive began Tuesday, and it will last through Sept. 8. Donors can bring new and gently used books to any Jefferson City public school during normal school hours. Books for adults are welcome, too.
"I hope it takes some kids to another place," Louis Gerling said of what he hopes could be accomplished by the books he and his fiancée, Tracy Morrow, brought. Gerling and Morrow, both of Jefferson City, were the first to donate books to the drive.
Gerling, a driver for Scott's Towing LLC, went to Thorpe Gordon with Morrow Tuesday afternoon in a flatbed car-transport truck and gave Thompson books the two of them had been keeping in a storage shed.
"I knew we saved them for a reason," Morrow said.
Thompson said students would be sent home Tuesday with an informational flyer about the book drive.
Scott West, owner of Scott's Towing, said his company would also spread the word through social media. He came to Thorpe Gordon's library Tuesday just behind Gerling and Morrow.
"I know my son's got his favorite book, his go-to book he always brings to me," West said, adding he knows a lot of children won't have that now.
"I kind of have feelers out, looking for somebody who's headed down there - that way maybe they could take the books we get," Thompson said of how to get the books to Texas. She's also been in contact with the Salvation Army.
West said Scott's Towing would help pay for shipping costs, too.
"It's good to help somebody out. I know, I've been there; I've been in situations where I could've used some help, so to be able to give that back is more than just heart-warming, it makes you feel good all over," he said.