(Arnolds Park)– Efforts are underway to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program to Dickinson county. Amy Pas is spearheading the project locally…
“We have 776 residents of Dickinson county that are under the age of five. And what this program is, it’s gifting of books to children. The parents sign up and from birth to age five the child receives a book, age appropriate, once a month until they’re five-years-old and it’s free to the family.”
Pas says they’re seeking donations to make the program possible locally…
“They can donate actually through the Okoboji Foundation. We have a tab on their website and you can go and get more information there. We need to raise the money to start the program before we launch the program so we’re looking for donations from anybody that’s interested in gifting books to children.”
She says it’s important to encourage children to read at an early age…
“Actually years ago I wondered why Iowa didn’t have it and I didn’t realize it wasn’t a state-run program, it’s an area program, and all of the counties around us have it. I didn’t understand why Dickinson county never had it and then I finally thought about it and I thought you know what? This is ridiculous. We should have this here, it’s such a wonderful program.”
Pas adds it will be easy for families to sign up for books once the program is up and running…
“Well they can either sign up online through Imagination Library or they can fill out a form. We’re going to have forms in lots of places around the area and then they can just go and mail it in, too.”
Again donations to the Imagination Library of Dickinson County may be made through the Okoboji Foundation’s website or by sending a check to the Okoboji Foundation at P.O. Box 593, Okoboji, Iowa…51355.
The Arnolds Park Library Foundation is also involved in the effort.
