Dear Editor,

The world recently lost Dolly Parton. She was a God-fearing, guitar-picking songwriter. She left her childhood shack, forging an empire with a high school diploma and lots of grit. Beyond her music, she supported the community of her roots, building Dollywood Park, employing locals. She donated a million dollars to develop a covid vaccine. She wrote books. And she had great quips, my favorite: “People think I am just a dumb blonde. But I’m neither.”

Underneath the blonde wigs and rhinestones was a big heart. She wanted to leave a legacy beyond her songs, movies and parks. And she did. She left a legacy of literacy; her daddy called this her greatest achievement.

Her gift is the Imagination Library. Her Dollywood Foundation underwrites most of the cost, mailing over 3 million books monthly to youngsters. Her program impacts children right here in Oakdale and Riverbank. The Imagination Library of Stanislaus County serves nearly 8,000 children.

The day Dolly Parton died and for days following, parents signed up their children in droves. We saw nearly 300 new children in just two days. Were folks afraid that with her passing the program would close its doors?

Well, that won’t happen.

This program will always be free to families, but it is not free to the community offering it. Local Program Partners are billed monthly for their books. We pay $1.30 per book, but when that incredible price is multiplied by thousands, the bills become sizable.

I write to sing the praises of Dolly Parton and assure parents that the Imagination Library will continue. If you would like to honor her memory and help keep the legacy going, consider donating to our local program. Go to imaginationlibrary.com, find the Imagination Library of Stanislaus County and donate. Give the gift of literacy.

Susan Rich