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First Dolly Imagination Library Books Arriving In North Escambia Mailboxes
August 6, 2008
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library arrived in North Escambia back in late June, with plans to provide a free book every month for every child under five years old.
Now, just over a month later, the books are set to start arriving the mailboxes of about 300 children around Escambia County. Roughly half, about 150 of them, are in the area in and around Century, according to Diane Hutcherson, executive director of the Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County. The coalition administers the program locally.
In 1996, Dolly launched a new effort to benefit the children of her home county in east Tennessee. Dolly wanted to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families. She wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. And she wanted to insure that every child would have books, regardless of their family’s income.
She decided to mail a brand new, age appropriate book each month to every child under five in Sevier County, Tennesee. With the arrival of every child’s first book, the classic The Little Engine That Could, every child could now experience the joy of finding their very own book in their mailbox. These moments continue each month until the child turns five,and in their very last month in the program they receive Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come.
Now children under in Century and the surrounding North Escambia area can signup for the same program under the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. They will receive a new age appropriate book each month until they turn five…all at absolutely no cost. And, there are no income requirements for the program.
“Parents will not pay a dime for the program,” said Larry Kenny, special projects director for the Early Learning Coalition. “They will not be added to any kind of mailing list; their information is kept private and used only to mail the books free of charge to their homes.”
The coalition recently purchased the 12 books that would typically be sent to a two year old participating the program. “It was $225 for us to buy the books locally at retail,” Hutcherson said. “And any parent can get these books mailed to their home for their child for free.”
Century area parents were able to enroll their children in the program for the first time during a celebration the the Campfire USA Child Development Center back on June 28.
Parents can continue to enroll their children in the free program during regular business hours at Campfire USA on Industrial Boulevard, at the Century Pharmacy on Mayo Street, at New Life Baptist Church and at the Century Branch Library.
Funding for the program in the Century area is provided by the Teaspoon Foundation and Century Pharmacy.
“It’s exciting to me how well this has gone,” Jack Moran of Century pharmacy said. “This is going to go a long way toward improving school grades.”
Hutcherson said the group is looking for more funding to allow more children to receive the books. Right now, the program has been rolled out only in Century and at a few Pensacola locations due to limited funding. The cost per child, she said, is about $30 per year. For more information, contact the Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County at 595-5400.
Pictured above: Jared Bevan, 4, enjoys reading one of the books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at Campfire USA in Century on June 28. Pictured below: Some of the books from the program. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
3 Responses to “First Dolly Imagination Library Books Arriving In North Escambia Mailboxes”
It is exciting to be a part of the “Dolly Parton Imagination Library”! The children and parents are so excited when they hear about the program and even more excited being enrolled! Our thanks goes out not only to Dolly Parton but also to our partners, locally i.e., New Life Baptist Church, Campfire USA Daycare, and the Century Library. If anyone knows a child ages 0-5, that resides in Escambia County, Fl come by and enroll them in this program.
I am a member of the Board of Directors of the Early Learning Coalition. Applications are available at The Century Branch Library, New Life Church, Campfire USA Day Care, and Century Pharmacy to enroll your child or grandchild in the program.
We have over 150 children in the Century Area enrolled. Our goal is to enroll over 500 children in the North-End.
“Reading Days” will be held at New Life Baptist Church, The Century Branch Library, and the Campfire Day Care every month.
Jack Moran
Bratt/Byrneville
I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL IDEA. DOLLY PARTON IS A BEAUTIFUL PERSON FOR DOING THIS FOR OUR YOUNG CHILDREN. SOME OF THEIR FAMILIES ARN’T ABLE TO BUY BOOKS FOR THEM TO READ, SO THIS WILL BE A WONDERFUL WAY FOR THEM TO LEARN AND GROW WITH DOLLYS IMAGINATION LIBRARY BOOKS. I’M SURE THAT THIS WILL MAKE A BIG HIT WITH THE LITTE ONES, AND THE PARENTS.