Two local organizations are encouraging others to join the battle against illiteracy. (Nipawin Kinsmen/Facebook)

By Rachel May

Dollywood comes to the Northeast

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library helping children in the northeast

Jan 11, 2022 | 6:00 PM

Nipawin and Area Early Years Family Resource Centre and the Nipawin Kinsmen are bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to the northeast.

The two groups announced their partnership on Jan 5 and called on other local organizations to join them in the fight against illiteracy.

Lisa Vavra, Nipawin and Area Early Years Family Resource Centre co-ordinator, said the children enrolled will all receive thefirst and last book.

“The first book the children get is the little engine that could. They also get a letter from Dolly Parton. The very last book they receive is about going to kindergarten and they receive another letter from Dolly Parton.”

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a program that mails books to children from birth to age five. All books are selected based on the child’s age and sent monthly.

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The program is available to all children regardless of their families’ income. Parton was inspired by her father, who struggled with illiteracy as he didn’t have a chance to attend school.

The Kinsmen will be sponsoring 50 families per year for a total of three years. Currently, all spots have been filled.

“We decided to do one book per family instead of one book per child in the family,” Vavra explained. “That way more families can benefit from the program.”

Out of the 50 families, five were registered before the deadline to receive a book in February. The remaining families will receive their first book at the beginning of March.

Both organizations hope other local businesses and individuals will sponsor additional spots so that children in the community can receive books. Each spot is $42.60 and gives one child a book every month for a year.

The Nipawin Kinsmen challenges local service clubs, businesses, or any one with a love of reading to sponsor more children in the Nipawin area to help battle against illiteracy.

Nipawin and Area Early Years Family Resource Centre offers programs from prenatal to age 5. Their focus is to help educate and support families in the area.

The four pillars are parent education, early learning, family wellness and info and referrals. (Submitted Image/Nipawin and Area Early Years Family Resource Centre)

The four guiding principles of the Nipawin and Area Early Years Family Resource Centre are early learning, parental education, family wellness and information and referrals.

Families can access services such as drop-in maternal mental health therapy appointments and drop-in play which gives families a safe space to play together.

The centre holds events for both parents and children. The events this month are their speaker series that will showcase sensory processing in children and family literacy day which will feature three local authors.

—

Rachel.May@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RachelMayFM