Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is coming to the Bashaw and Mirror communities, pending raising enough funds to participate in the first year of the program.
Organizers Cindy Hunter of the Bashaw Municipal Library and Bashaw mom Natasha Larkin are about halfway to their fundraising goal.
“We’re just so pumped about it. It’s just taking off,” said Hunter.
It was Larkin’s idea to start a local chapter of the program. The pair thought why not bring it to Bashaw?
“We can do big things,” said Hunter.
The Bashaw and Mirror chapter has been registered and they now need to raise the cost of one year’s participation in the program before they can launch it in the area.
As the cost is $45 per child per year and they’re hoping to register 40 children, they need to raise $1,800.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library provides children from birth to age five with free books.
The books come in the mail with the child’s name, once a month, and are sturdy, high-quality, age-appropriate books, said Hunter.
The Dollywood Foundation handles all the details administrating the program and mailing the books.
A chapter of Imagination Library exists in Camrose and has been serving children registered in the program across Camrose County. When the Bashaw/Mirror program starts, children in those areas can get their books through the new chapter.
The program is not income-based, and any family with children zero to five with a Bashaw or Mirror postal code can register.
The first book participants receive is The Little Engine That Could, signed by Parton, as the book was her favourite as a child.
The last book is I’m Ready for Kindergarten.
Hunter and Larkin are hoping to launch the new chapter in the next month. To donate to the program, send an e-transfer to imaginationlibbasharea@gmail.com, or contact the Hunter or Larkin.
For more information about the program, visit imaginationlibrary.com.