BOOKS THAT EMPOWER – 2023
ONCE UPON A TOWN
By Bob Greene
Each year, SouthCol Advisors selects a book that it believes is both inspirational and empowering; a book that broadens perspectives and challenges its reader to do better.
2023 – Once Upon a Town, by Bob Greene
2022 – Endurance, by Alfred Lansing
2021 – Call Us What We Carry, by Amanda Gorman
2020 – March, by John Lewis
Every year, SouthCol donates copies of its “Books That Empower” selection to local literacy and community organizations.
If you have a book you would like to suggest, we would love to hear from you!
This year, SouthCol is pleased to announce Once Upon a Town by Bob Greene as its “Books That Empower” selection for 2023.
SouthCol founder, James Lumberg, explained this year’s selection stating, “Our book this year tells the true story of the North Platte Canteen and what is possible when people come together with common purpose. It provides a timely reminder of the transformative power of community.”
The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen
During World War II, the tiny town of North Platte, Nebraska was a stop for every American troop train headed east and, eventually, to the war in Europe.
The residents of North Platte, realizing these young men could be their own sons, sprang into action. Wanting to offer the servicemen warmth and support, the town quickly transformed its railroad depot into the North Platte Canteen. During a time of strict rationing, the Canteen was staffed, stocked, and funded entirely by volunteers.
Open every single day of the war – 7 days a week, 365 days a year – the Canteen provided welcoming words, friendship, and food. By the end of the war, this tiny community of 12,000 people had served more than six million GIs.
Although each train stop was brief, those few moments made a significant impact on the lives of scared young men headed for war.
Concluded James Lumberg, “We hope this story will both inspire and empower our clients, just as their work inspires us every day.”