Dolly Parton’s legacy of philanthropy is living on in the town of St. Marys one month, one book at a time. The local chapter of Dolly’s Imagination Library has stepped up its fundraising campaign to create a permanent endowment fund to make sure young children in the community will always have books to read. “There’s an array of books. There’s lots of different cultural things to read up on. It’s really neat just to see what they come up with every month that we receive. So, it most often would be books that I wouldn’t even think to buy,” said Stephanie Schellenberger, whose son Harrison, almost four, is enrolled in the program. With International Literacy Day on September 8, the St. Marys chapter of Dolly’s Imagination Library has stepped up its fundraising campaign. Local partner and founder Chantal Lynch says they’re trying to raise the final $54,000 in their goal of creating a $300,000 endowment fund. “So, we have 300 children every month that are getting age appropriate, selected by professionals, books. And those are gifted to them. So, they go to the post office, they show up in their mailbox, and the book has their name on it the kid’s name. It’s amazing,” said Lynch. Five-year-old Beau Doucette is also a member. He enjoys reading with his grandmother, Debbie Baker. “And of course a lot of it is educational, and it gets them prepared for school,” said Baker. The fundraising campaign had already been underway when Dolly passed, last week. Lynch says it makes their efforts that much more meaningful. “And it started because her father is illiterate. She understands the struggle that her father had being illiterate. And so it was just fundamental,” said Lynch. Supported entirely by the local community, the program does not discriminate. It’s available to any child who lives within the St. Marys postal code area. And in addition to the educational aspect for young Harrison, Schellenberger says that’s part of why she was attracted to the program. “I think it’s wonderful because not everyone can afford to buy books, and I think that’s kind of the whole point that Dolly Parton started. Every kid gets a chance to have books every month,” she said. Anyone interested in supporting the campaign can donate through the St. Marys Imagination Library website.
