Local Imagination Library Receives Fundraising Guidance from Partner Organization
The Hardeman County Imagination Library (HCIL) team met with Kim Weiss, Regional Program Manager, West Tennessee for the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation in Bolivar on Thursday, August 22, 2024. Ms. Weiss, who is new in the position, has recently started visiting partnering teams across the West Tennessee region to meet them and learn how she can assist in their fundraising efforts.
“We are the partners with the Imagination Library. Governor Bredesen, 20 years ago, started a foundation when he wanted Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library statewide in all 95 counties, and wanted to have enough money and appropriations to pay for at least 50 percent of the books. In return, he started a foundation that handles the money, so we pay 50 percent of the book bill of all the children in Hardeman County and the Imagination Library raises the money for the other 50 percent,” said Ms. Weiss, who shared more about the meeting. “It was just to meet with the board and to get an idea of where they are, how they need help, how I can help them, future fundraising concerns, and problems.”
The Imagination Library program provides books monthly for free to children from birth to the age of five years old. The goal of the program is to foster a love of reading. According to Monroe Woods of the HCIL, a person can donate $26 and that will support monthly books for one child annually in Hardeman County.
“We do 1,300 books per month, and we are at about 95 percent. We were at almost 98 percent last year,” said Mr. Woods, who has been an active volunteer in the HCIL for 19 years.
The Hardeman County team has been a standout over the years in regards to child enrollment in the Imagination Library program.
“They are an exemplary model program. Statewide, it [child enrollment] is 70 percent. It’s amazing,” said Ms. Weiss, who shared how the community can help in the effort. “The awareness. There is this misnomer that Dolly Parton pays for all of these books, and in fact the members of this board are out fundraising asking leaders in the community to help them with that, so that is how the community can help.”
If you would like to assist in the efforts of the Hardeman County Imagination Library, you may do so by making a momentary donation to purchase books, and share your special skills that include grant writing, social media, and more. You may contact Monroe Woods (731) 609-3906 to learn more about the HCIL and how you can help.
Read more local news by clicking here.
Stay informed on what’s happening in Hardeman County by following Hatchie Press on Facebook and Subscribing to Hatchie Press e-mail updates.
Do you have community news you’d like to share? E-mail us at news@hatchiepress.com.
