Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is celebrating 30 years, and the local arm, Read SI is asking for more financial help to continue its program.
Read SI’s Lori Longueville reports, as of July 1, nearly 6,800 children are enrolled, more than 8,400 have been served and just under 45 percent of all children eligible are receiving books.
She says since September 1, 2024, Read SI has helped to deliver nearly 66,000 books to children age birth to five in the area.
The estimated cost to continue this program for another full year is $120,000.
But, Longueville says, as of July 1, they have received just under $34,000.
She says additional community support is needed to fund the partnership that includes over 20 agencies, individuals, and programs from across southern Illinois and is facilitated by the Southern Illinois Coalition for Children and Families, the Southern Illinois Community Foundation and the Walker Borum Foundation.
