UWCC Imagination Library

PULLMAN - The United Way of Whitman County (UWCC) began gifting books to Whitman County children from birth to age five through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in March 2022.

In the last year over 4,300 books have been given to 644 children county-wide.

"Our long-term goal, of course, is to foster a love of reading in each and every one of the 2000 Whitman County kids 5 and under, by making the Imagination Library available to all of them! We are especially proud that books are being mailed to children in 19 Whitman County towns and cities," UWWC President, Christine Oakley said.

Oakley explained that when the UWCC found out that Washington had a non-profit for the Imagination Library, which have worked hard to get every county in the state to be associated with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library they took the opportunity and filled the paperwork with Dollywood to be an affiliate.

"We have all Whitman County zip codes of kids that can enroll in the program," Oakley said, noting that they've done a number of things to make it available to everybody in Whitman County.

"We have a wonderful partnership with the Whitman County Library," she added, explaining that they have a Dolly Parton cut-out they've loaned to the WCL, and she travels to all the different branches.

"Colfax has almost 100 children enrolled," she said, adding that their biggest goal is to promote reading and literacy in young children.

Oakley added that when she looks at the list of the children enrolled towns include, Albion, Colfax, Hooper, Hay, Malden, Steptoe, Colton, and Uniontown. As well as Pullman, and many others.

"It's exciting how the county has adopted the program, and enabled the children in those small towns to have access to the books," she said.

The UWCC's goal is to get as many children enrolled as possible to the free book gift. Oakley explained that as long as the kids have an address or post office box that they can mailed books to they can enroll. The book packages are addressed to the children, and a book will come once a month unitl they reach age five.

To sign up visit https://www.whitmanunited.org/imaginationlibrary. Donations can be made online through the website, or mailing a check to P.O. Box 426, Pullman WA, 99163.

The Imagination Library is a free book-gifting program for children ages 5 and under, started by Dolly Parton in her home state of Tennessee in 1995 as a tribute to her father.

"He was the smartest man I have every known but I know in my heart his inability to read probably kept him from fulfilling all of his dreams," Dolly Parton is quoted as saying.

Since its inception, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has gifted more than 199 million books throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, and the UK.