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ANNOUNCEMENT (August 8, 2025): Unfortunately, Cooking with Kids is back on break through the remainder of August due to scheduling conflicts with the meeting room. But that just means Deb has more time to plan what will happen next session, which is sure to be exciting! Stay tuned to the website and socials for the announcement of our next Cooking with Kids session, and have a great start to the new school year!

REPORT (August 7, 2025)
Our Cooking with Kids crew was unusually small this week as our regulars were gone for vacations, activities, and vacation bible school. In the plus column, this gave our two new guys more direct experience with every step of the cooking process and Deb an easier time keeping an eye on them as they worked (i.e. catching the use of the Tablespoon for the salt before it made it into the sauce instead of the Teaspoon). This week’s dynamic duo made stuffed zucchini, and the results were off the charts awesome. Thanks to our participants for joining us, and special thanks to Deb Haverkamp for making this experience possible!

REPORT (July 24, 2025)
Our Cooking with Kids crew came back to make a summer classic this session: Strawberry shortcake with fresh cut strawberries and homemade whipped topping. The kids hit this one out of the ball park, with fluffy whipped cream, perfectly proportioned strawberries, and a light and flavorful cake worth its weight in oven-baked gold. This lucky librarian got to sample this seasonal favorite and it hit all the right notes of nostalgia and simple pleasures. Awesome job Cooking Crew! Special thanks to Librarian Deb Haverkamp for making this session possible!

REPORT (May 22, 2025)
Cooking with Kids went back to basics in true Midwest fashion with breaded cube steaks and mashed potatoes and gravy from scratch! The kids got a chance to see the difference between using a non-stick pan vs a seasoned cast-iron skillet. They also learned the importance of keeping your whisk moving while blending to avoid lumpy gravy! Just a few more classic staples added to the Cooking Crew’s repertoire. Great job chefs and a special thanks to Deb Haverkamp for bringing these educational opportunities to our younger patrons!

Seneca Free Library is an ongoing partner with Nemaha County Food Pantry and in August our Food Pantry Focus is “High Need Items!” Straight from the volunteers’ mouths, the items most needed right now are deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. Juice supplies are also severely lacking right now. You can drop off Unopened and Unexpired items or any number of other food and hygiene items right here at the library during our regular business hours: M-Th 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Sat 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.

This is a service we offer the community. The Food Pantry is staffed by volunteers and is open one day a week. Rather than having to remember what day and hours they are open, you can drop your donations by the library and we will deliver them for you! We highlight different items to donate each month just to offer some direction and promote awareness. When everything is needed on a regular basis, it can be helpful to have some guidance.

If you have large donations it is best to deliver them directly to the food pantry. We can help facilitate a drop off time if needed. Call us during regular business hours at 785-336-2377.

Some Important Points to Note:

* The Food Pantry is closed the second Wednesday of every month.

* Paper goods and personal hygiene products are also always needed!

* Opened and outdated products are NOT accepted at the Pantry.

Each Family receives the following items Once a Month.

• 1 breakfast item
• 4 cans of vegetables
• 1 can of beans
• 1 package of rice
• 1 pasta and sauce
• 1 jar of peanut butter
• 1 box of crackers
• 2 cans of fruit
• 1 can of tuna or chicken
• 2 cans of soup
• 1 dessert
• 1 pound of meat.

While we highlight different donation items each month here at the library, the following items are ALWAYS NEEDED:

• Paper products [toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex]
• personal products [feminine hygiene, sanitary wipes, etc.]
• boxed cereals
• oatmeal
• pancake mix and pancake syrup
• canned vegetables
• rice
• pasta and pasta sauce
• peanut butter
• boxed crackers
• canned fruit
• canned tuna
• canned chicken
• boxed tuna and chicken helper
• canned soups
• jello and pudding mixes
• cookies
• cake mixes and frosting
• pie mix
• and more!
• They also accept laundry detergent, dish soap, shampoo, and bath soap.

Old Cell Phones and Devices Wanted

Looking for another opportunity to give back?

The American Legion Auxiliary (Unit 21-Seneca) is collecting the following items: cell phones (all smartphones and iPhones or flip phones), phone chargers and USB cords, iPads and non-Apple Tablets or eReaders, iPods and MP3 Players.

ALA will ship these items to Big Sky Recycling who will then donate the items to U.S. soldiers through Operation Shoebox or recycle the items that are broken or too far out-dated to be used. By donating your old cell phones and tablets you will help provide phones and phone cards through care packages to our troops deployed overseas and returning home.

Items for donation may be dropped off at the Seneca Free Library (606 Main St, Seneca, KS), The American Legion (Basement, 812 Main St, Seneca, KS), or Sts Peter and Paul Mission Center (409 Amador St, Seneca, KS). For more information or questions about specific items for donation, email alaseneca21@gmail.com

What NOT to Donate!

x Original Boxes or Instruction Manuals for phones.
x Computers, Laptops, or Computer Parts
x Landline Phones
x Printers or Ink Cartridges
x Cable Boxes
x Damaged Batteries for any devices.

What About Data Security?

Before donating any electronic device, it is advised that you first save any important content (photos, contacts, etc) and then perform a factory reset to erase all data. If you are unable to power on or perform the reset, rest assured Big Sky Recycling ensures data destruction on all recycled cell phones and devices.

Dungeons and Dragons Program Continues at SFL!

Dungeons and Dragons is an interactive storytelling game in which a group of players collaborate with a lead storyteller (referred to as the Game or Dungeon Master) to navigate and explore the world, people, creatures, and scenarios that they encounter during the game.

Our line-up for August continues with one-shots to offer more exploration time for character options and less pressure on our teen group as they head back to school and get re-acclimated to things like schedules and routines. Pre-registration is not “required,” but it is appreciated to help the facilitator prepare effectively. Call 785-336-2377 or drop in at the circulation desk to sign up or get more information.

We still have folks who have expressed interest but have been unable to participate in our programming. We haven’t forgotten you! We also recognize that as time goes on and more people hear about this program we may gather more interest in additional programming. Our two intro programs “Basic Intro to D&D” and “Character Building 101” are still available and ready to be rescheduled. If you wanted to attend and couldn’t (or just want to do it again), let us know at the circulation desk by calling 785-336-2377, talking to Chad directly, or emailing Librarian@senecafreelibrary.org. A “DM Boot Camp” is also being planned and will be scheduled once our current crop of new players has some more table experience and a steady interest in learning the other side of the table is expressed.

LIBRARY D&D in JUNE 2025

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS:

In August:
One-Shot Game (Teen/Adult): A game experience with a clear start and end to a short storyline designed to be completed in a single gaming session (usually 2-3 hours). Premade characters will be available to choose from or characters made in our Character Building 101 session may be used. This program had enough interest to divide into Teen and Adult groups as indicated in the schedule. Dice will be available to borrow, or you may bring your own! (Just be sure to have a full 7 piece polyhedral set: d20, d12, d%, d10, D8, D6, D4.)

Available Programs for Future Events:
Basic Intro to D&D: This program is designed for beginning players or those who have been away from the table for a while and just want a refresher course. Find out what Dungeons and Dragons is (and what it isn’t), how it’s played, and what you need to join or start your own game. Simplified premade characters will be provided to participate in a quick play demonstration. (Due to scheduling constraints, this will be a mixed Teens and Adults Group.)

Character Building 101: This is a basic introduction to character building using the D&D 2024 rules set. We will cover Ability Scores and the three primary methods of generating them, Skills and Proficiencies and how to use them, Classes, Species (formerly Races), and, most importantly, how to go from a character idea to a game-ready character sheet. This session will end in participants having a pen-and-paper 1st level character sheet that will be usable in future library events and most standard D&D groups. (Due to scheduling constraints, this will be a mixed Teens and Adults Group.)

Campaign Play (Teen/Adult Groups): A game style that follows the same group of player characters as they adventure through an on-going story (or multiple story arcs) across multiple play sessions. This game style is less ideal for those just getting started or who are eager to try a variety of character types or classes. Due to scheduling constraints, a campaign is likely to be limited to occurring once a month and will most likely take the place of the One-Shot games for the duration of the campaign.

DM Boot Camp: The dice are calling and you’ve gathered your allies, but somebody has to actually run the game! Will you answer the call to run it all? Let us help you get your footing as we go over the basics of what goes on behind the DM Screen, offer tips on how to build encounters, and suggest some “DM Does and Don’ts” that might make your games a little bit smoother and hopefully a lot more fun for you and your players. (Due to scheduling constraints, this will be a mixed Teens and Adults Group.)

Thank you for your interest in Library D&D! If you have any questions about the program or are interested in participating, feel free to contact us at 785-336-2377 or email us at librarian@senecafreelibrary.org. You can also visit with us directly at the circulation desk during regular operating hours!