White County joined the Imagination Library party officially Wednesday with Mayor Jeff Pollard proclaiming it “Dolly Day” in Carmi during a special launch event at the Carmi Public Library. A total of 4,140 children were enrolled in the program during it’s first day across the southern 17 counties in Illinois. Thousands more will be enrolled in the days, weeks, and months ahead as the program seeks to launch a world of wonder for youngsters age 0-5. Beth Conner, owner at Little Sprouts Learning Center, is on the steering committee for the Dolly Parton initiative and had this to say about the program’s launch.
The way it works is you just go on the website and you put in your information; your mailing address, the child’s name and every month, you get a free book all the way up until they turn 5. There’s never any cost to you. And it’s funded in part by the state of Illinois and then in order to bring it to a community you have to have local donors as well. Some of those here in attendance include First Mid Bank, Huck’s through their Karing for Kids, and then Wal-Mart.
That website to sign up is https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/?#selectedCountry=US.
Businesses, individuals, organizations, and churches can donate to help bring books to children. Conner says the cost is $13.30 per year to sponsor a child and they’ll receive a free book monthly. Learn more about how to help or enroll a child you know by contacting Conner at Little Sprouts, 618-382-7604.
Emily Williams led a story hour for children on hand for the sign up event
