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Dolly Parton Imagination Library expands in Lake County; volunteer runs countywide enrollment drive
Summary
A volunteer organizer told commissioners the local Dolly Parton Imagination Library program has enrolled more than 1,055 children across several funded Lake County ZIP codes in under two years and requested donations and volunteers to expand to additional communities.
A volunteer organizer for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library told the board on July 22 that the local program has enrolled 1,055 children across multiple Lake County ZIP codes since launch and seeks additional donations and volunteer help to expand.
Program basics: The Imagination Library mails an age‑appropriate, high‑quality book each month to enrolled children from birth through age 4.5. The national foundation (Dollywood Foundation) covers the costs of book production and distribution logistics; local community partners pay the local per‑child cost (about $36 per year) for printing/labeling and to fund local program operations.
Local status and goals: The speaker, who operates the Triangle Community Alliance as the local partner, said the program currently serves multiple cities and is planning to expand to smaller communities, including some with below‑average third‑grade literacy. The organizer noted $31.20 (presented as the local per‑child cost in meeting remarks) as the local partner portion per child per year and urged businesses and commissioners to consider private and corporate donations, volunteer help for enrollment drives, and local institution partnerships to ensure program sustainability.
Ending: Commissioners commended the volunteer organizer and asked staff to circulate sign‑up and donation information to county channels. Organizers said they will continue to partner with libraries, schools and early learning coalitions to reach families and plan enrollment events.
