The Kiwanis Club of Jefferson presented a $700 donation to Caring Hearts of West Central Iowa on Oct. 1 to help fund the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Greene County. Caring Hearts executive director Joellen Buerckley accepted the gift at the club’s weekly meeting.
In Greene County, nearly 300 children are enrolled in the program, receiving free, age-appropriate books each month from birth to age 5. “Kiwanis exists to serve the children of the world, and encouraging a love of reading early in life helps us fulfill that mission,” said a club spokesperson. “We’re proud to partner with Caring Hearts to make sure Greene County families have this wonderful resource.”
The Imagination Library was launched by Dolly Parton in 1995, inspired by her father’s inability to read or write. What began in Tennessee now serves families around the globe, mailing more than 270 million books to date.
The mission of Caring Hearts, the sponsor of the Imagination Library in Greene County, is to enhance the quality of life of individuals with disabilities in partnership with families and communities. By sponsoring the Imagination Library, Caring Hearts extends that mission to promote literacy and learning opportunities for all children.
Families looking to learn more about the Dolly Parton Imagination Library can call the Caring Hearts office at 712-775-2726 or email Buerckley directly at jbuerckley@caringheartswcia.org.
