Pam Toler, chairwoman of Imagination Library of Saline County, said because of an increase in registration, the nonprofit organization needs money to continue to provide free books to children.
“Research shows the single factor most affecting school readiness is the presence of books in the home,” Toler said. “We put books directly in the home.” The Imagination Library is affiliated with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
The nonprofit had a registration spike in December from 700 children to 1,700 children, quickly emptying the amount needed to continue the project, Toler said. Some of those have graduated from the program, but 300-400 children are waiting to be enrolled.
“We have a formula for how much money we need to have in the bank,” Toler said. “Basically, we had such an increase of enrollment, we are trying to raise funds and not interrupt services.
“Until we have enough sustainable funds — because I can’t compromise the kids who are already in the program — many people are trying to help us to get books in the homes of Saline County,” Toler said.
To raise money for the Imagination Library, the Saline County Young Professionals Network is hosting its first fundraiser,
Fish ’N Books, a drive-thru lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Park Place Baptist Church, 22208 Interstate 30 Frontage Road in Bryant.
“We started throwing out several organizations, and a lot of us had connections to Pam Toler with Imagination Library,” YPN president Chris Ledbetter said. “That just seemed like a natural fit.”
For $12 a plate, customers will receive catfish, chicken strips, coleslaw, baked beans, french fries and hush puppies. Iced tea or lemonade is included in the price.
For more information on Fish ’N Books or to place a delivery order, email salineypn@gmail.com. Tickets are available at www.eventbrite.com/e/fish-n-books-tickets-37176644344. Rick Bellinger of Riverside Grocery & Catering will provide the food.
“Rick was glad to offer his services and commit to cooking the food and having it all plated up,” Ledbetter said. “People can drive up and pick up their lunch, and a portion of [the proceeds will] provide books for kids.”
Ledbetter said if people buy tickets ahead of time, it will allow the organization to have an accurate amount of food prepared. He also said for orders of five or more, Young Professionals Network will deliver the meals to Saline County schools or businesses.
“There have already been several teachers that want to order lunch,” Ledbetter said. “One school said they wanted nine plates. I think we will be pleasantly surprised with the turnout.”
He said every $25 raised will provide one book a month to a child younger than 5 for an entire year.
“Teachers obviously know about the program, and they want to get involved,”
Ledbetter said. “We have picked up on the fact that people respond to food.”
Imagination Library of Saline County is open to all children from birth to 5 years old. Ledbetter’s daughter,
Lucy, has received books since she was about 6 months old, and now, she is almost 3.
“Any child can benefit from the program and from being read to,” Ledbetter said.
Toler said exposing children to a wide variety of words will give the framework needed for their
education.
“The more words children know at age 3, the more depth of a vocabulary they will have by the time they hit third grade,” she said. “The way you build children’s vocabulary is for them to hear a lot of words, and they will learn more words in children’s books.”
The cutoff for the program is 5 years old.
“The month you turn age 5, you will get a book about going to kindergarten,” Toler said. “Hopefully by then, the child has a library card and is starting school and has established a culture of reading in the family. Hopefully, they have a love of reading that serves them the rest of their life.”
For more information on the Imagination Library of Saline County, visit www.imaginationlibraryofsalinecounty.org.
Staff writer Sam Pierce can be reached at (501) 244-4314 or spierce@arkansasonline.com.