The Bedford County Imagination Library hosted a “Sponsor Appreciation Reception” for their Friends of Dolly Campaign on Tuesday at the Public Library.

Guests enjoyed light refreshments and a photo op with “Dolly.”

The goal of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is to “inspire a love of reading.” Through this program, sponsors want to ensure all children have books at home, regardless of the environment in which they live.

Imagination Library partners with local communities—like Bedford County—to provide a specially-selected, high-quality book each month to participating children from birth to age five. These books are personalized with each child’s name and mailed directly to their home to create a gifting experience that makes books exciting and encourages families to spend time enjoying books together.

All of this is available to all children at no cost to the family.

However, in order to make this work, the Dolly Foundation partners with that state to donate half of what the county needs.

“So, in Bedford County, we need $60,000 — which the Dolly Foundation and the state provide half of. It’s up to our fundraising efforts to come up with the other $30,000. It’s a lot, so we just thank you all for donating,” said Laura Pewitt, who sits on the board.

“We actually have a really high enrollment for the Imagination Library here in Bedford County, which is great that we’re able to do that,” said board member Ashley Rowland. “It wouldn’t be possible without the support of people in this room.”

Dolly Parton was inspired by her father—who couldn’t read—to create the Imagination Library. Her goal was to inspire the children in her home county of Sevier County. However, the program has since expanded worldwide, providing a book a month to well over 1 million children.

Some of the local “Friends of Dolly” sponsors include: the Shelbyville Optimist Club, Cooper Steel, Brent and Laura Pewitt, Mike and Christy Coffey, Talk of the Town Children’s Boutique, Jody and Sara Jo Lambert, Ivan Jones, National Pen, Co-Op, Mark and Donna Thomas, First United Methodist Women, Bedford County Education Association, and Chris Marasco, M.D.

Individuals or businesses can make donations to the Imagination Library by mailing to their P.O. Box 2498 Shelbyville, or through Venmo @BedfordCo-ImaginationLibary.

In Dolly’s words, “The first step is always the hardest, but you’ll never know unless you try.”