YouthPartners will host a luncheon to raise funds for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Jefferson County which provides free books for children.
A Spring Salad Luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, at the Donald Reynolds Community Services Building, 211 W. Third Ave.
The Imagination Library provides age-appropriate books for children. Books are mailed every month to the child’s home (in their name) free because books are paid for by donations, grants, fundraisers and sponsors from the community, according to a news release.
In 1996, Parton launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to benefit the children of her home county in East Tennessee.
“Dolly’s vision was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families by providing them with the gift of a specially selected book each month. Since that time, the program has grown and is being replicated all over the world to improve literacy and help prepare children for kindergarten,” according to the release.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
In 2013, YouthPartners, the United Way of Southeast Arkansas and other community leaders, replicated this program for Jefferson County preschool children. Books are provided from the time children are born until their fifth birthday.
The Imagination Library is a 60 volume set of children’s books beginning with the children’s classic The Little Engine That Could™. The last book they receive is Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come.
The luncheon tickets are $10. Carryouts will be available. For ticket information contact: Mary Whiteaker at 870-692-6061 or Linda Bateman at 870-534-8251. Details: youthpartners@pbreynoldscenter.org or www.imaginationlibrary.com.