Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program is coming to Beaufort County, thanks to a partnership with Lowcountry Community Church.
Lowcountry Community Church (LCC) is teaming with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in a partnership that will send free books to the homes of Beaufort County children up to 5 years old.
“This is our Christmas gift to our community – and it’s the gift that keeps on giving,” said Jason Best, LCC executive pastor. “Our members have made it clear they have a heart for children and education. This seems like a win-win for all.”
At least one church parishioner is well aware of the program. “My oldest daughter received Imagination Library books for two years when we lived in Florida, and they are still today the most favorite books on our shelves,” said Holly Jackson, mother of four girls ages 2 to 9. “These are great stories that make you smile and think. I can’t wait for them to come our way again.”
Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book gifting program in the world. The flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has gifted more than 160 million free books in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and The Republic of Ireland.
The Imagination Library mails more than 1.8 million high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to registered children from birth to age 5. Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading, inspiring them to dream.
The impact of the program has been widely researched and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Registration is open now and can be easily completed online at ImaginationLibrary.com. To register by mail, print the registration form from the website, or call the church at 843-836-1101 or email jbest@lowcountrycc.org and request a form.
Once registered, families can expect their first book within 90 days.
The partnership was announced at LCC’s inaugural Light the Lowcountry kickoff event Dec. 5. Along with the announcement of the Imagination Library Partnership, attendees got the first walk through LCC’s Trail of Lights, which will be open to the public from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 10-12, 17-19 and 23-25.
The church is located at 801 Buckwalter Parkway in Bluffton. For more information about the gift of books or the Trail of Lights, visit lowcountrycc.org.
