The United Way of Greater Texarkana has worked for months on a plan to bring Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to children in Miller and Bowie counties, and in January, that plan will become reality.
Children signed up for the program will receive a book a month from birth to age 5 at a cost of $125 per child.
The United Way has raised enough money to serve 400 children this year.
"For Miller and Bowie counties, that means we'll be able to serve about 55 percent of those estimated to apply for the program," said Mark Bledsoe, United Way president/CEO.
Organizers were hoping to raise enough money to serve all eligible children born in the new year, but they fell a little short.
"The Dolly Parton Foundation estimates there will be 1,927 children born in the new year in Miller and Bowie counties," Bledsoe said. "They estimate that of those children born, about 60 percent of eligible children would submit cards, so that brings the number of children to 726, and we have enough funding for 400 kids."
The United Way will continue raising money for the program throughout the year, but the way it looks now, babies will be accepted into the Imagination Library on a first-come, first-served basis. They will be signed up at the hospital after they're delivered.
Bledsoe expects more community support once people see the program in action.
"When people see the impact, I do believe we'll get more support. Whether we get 100 percent of the funds needed, I don't know, but I certainly think we'll get more support," he said.
The United Way has money set aside for the full five years of the program for the kids it will enroll this year.
"This is certainly one of those long-term plans. We might not see results tomorrow, but as this group starts entering school, I think you'll see those kids outperforming ones that haven't been in the program. We hope to see them continue at that higher level once they progress through the school years," Bledsoe said.
"My hope is you see the kids that go through the program outperform previous students. If we educate our children at a higher level, they're able to succeed at a higher level. The only way we're going to improve our area in the long-term is through education. I think education is certainly the key," Bledsoe said. "This program not only encourages kids to read, but it encourages parents to spend time with their children. Maybe it will bring back some of those core values and reduce disciplinary problems that have been popping up in recent years. This is just the beginning. We've got to at least put programs like this in motion if we're going to make a difference."
Anyone who'd like to make a donation to the United Way for the Imagination Library can do so at texarkanaunitedway.org or can mail donations to the United Way, P.O. 106, Texarkana, TX 75504-0106.