The importance of literacy can never be overstated. That’s why Ohio’s First Lady Fran DeWine moved to get all 88 counties in the Buckeye State on board with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
To do so, the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library formed in July of 2019 with the backing of $5 million to jumpstart the program. The goal was to have all 88 counties, and in turn, make the program available to every child in Ohio by 2021.
Here in Belmont County, the program has been in operation since March 2020. Not the ideal time to start naturally, given the pandemic.
On multiple occasions a presser was scheduled with the governor’s office, only to be canceled because of the pandemic. The program pushed onward, but without an official public fundraiser or official proclamation.
“We were scheduled for a media launch event several times, but they were eventually canceled,” said Debbie Stanton of the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley. Stanton serves as the program officer for the Belmont County Imagination Library. “We have not had the chance to have a public fundraiser for the program due to COVID restrictions.”
But the program is providing free books monthly to children throughout the county from ages birth through five. All they need do is have their family register, and the books arrive monthly.
Stanton noted 1,292 children are currently enrolled in the program in Belmont County. This is a sharp increase from May 2020, when only 325 children received books. So far, 8,076 books have been delivered during the program’s first 10 months.
“We’ve had 136 children who ‘graduated’ from the program,” Stanton said. “These children have received monthly books as part of the program and have now turned five and are starting kindergarten with books they’ve received in their home, providing more opportunity to start school with improved reading skills.”
Funding
The initial funding provided for the program in Ohio calls for a 50 percent match from the state. The local organizations are responsible for fundraising for the other half.
There is no cost to the parents individually for participating in the program. The books arrive monthly, at no charge, throughout their child/children’s duration of meeting the age eligibility requirements.
Naturally, assistance and donations are helpful to keep this program in operation.
“We welcome volunteers to help with enrollment, program awareness, and, of course, funding and fundraising,” Stanton said. “The local affiliate for Belmont County is responsible for 50 percent of the program cost.
“Without funding, the program will not survive. There are many community volunteers trying to keep this program around for a long time for the benefit of children in Belmont County.”
Stanton noted there are currently 3,016 children under age five in Belmont County per the 2019 census estimates. The imagination library estimates that the total cost in Belmont County for years 2-5 of the program are:
- Year 2 $13,680 (40% enrollment)
- Year 3 $22,799 (60% enrollment)
- Year 4 $31,915 (80% enrollment)
- Year 5 $41,033 (100% enrollment)
How You Can Help
The program works. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital began its partnership individually with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in 2015 and has served nearly 15,000 children in the first four years of that partnership.
During that span, Kindergarten Readiness Assessments rose by 15.4 percent among children from 42.9 percent to 58.3 percent.
The program started in 1995 in Parton’s hometown located in Sevier County in Eastern Tennessee just south of Knoxville. It became statewide 15 years ago, and a 2014 Tennessee study showed that children who participated scored “significantly higher on Kindergarten Literacy Assessments” than fellow children of the same age who did not participate.
Stanton noted donations can be sent to the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, Attn: Imagination Library, 1226 Chapline Street, Wheeling, W.Va. 26003 or by clicking on this link. Anyone wishing to volunteer can contact Stanton at debbie@cfov.org or by phone at (304) 242-3144.
More information on the Belmont County program specifically can be obtained on its Facebook page.
