The Barry County Affiliate of Imagination Library hosted an event Thursday that gave youth the chance to see county emergency vehicles up close.
The “Touch a Truck” event, held at the Cassville Branch Library, brought fire, EMS, the sheriff’s office and more to the Library parking lot, and indoors, games, refreshments and giveaways were available.
The event also served as a meet-and-greet with the affiliate’s board members, as the group has established itself as a 501c3 not-for-profit. The board of four oversees Imagination Library for all of Barry County, except for Purdy, which has its own affiliate.
The Barry County Affiliate has partnered with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program to mail a new age-appropriate book to each enrolled child every month at no cost to their families.
The books are personalized with the child’s name and mailed directly to their home, making books exciting and inspiring a love for reading at an early age.
According to a press release from the affiliate, these books are critical to improving early childhood literacy. New research has shown that:
• The number of books in the home is a key indicator of academic success. In fact, children with just 25 books in the home are more likely to complete an additional two years of school.
• Early language development is critical to a child’s success. In fact, vocabulary development by age three has been shown to predict a child’s achievement by third grade.
• It is widely recognized that the best way to promote this language development is by reading aloud to children, and families participating in Imagination Library say they read together more often than their peers who aren’t participating in the program.
• Children develop a special bond with their parents and caregivers when they read together, and it establishes an important foundation for future learning. The earlier parents start, the better.
“We are working to make sure that every eligible child in Barry County can receive the benefits of having books in their home,” the release said. “Every $2.10 raised provides one new book to a child each month. That is just $26 per year for a child to receive 12 books. Your support will make a real difference in the lives of our children. Please consider one of the following sponsorship levels to help our area children succeed inside the classroom and beyond.”
Sponsorship opportunities include:
• 5 children for one year $125
• 10 children for one year $250
• 15 children for one year $375
• 20 children for one year $500
• 30 children for one year $750
• 40 children for one year $1,000 Donating is easily done through the imaginationlibrary. com website. Just click on the donate button, check the ‘designate to a specific affiliate box, select country, and then look for our MO-Barry County Missouri affiliate code.
Donations can also be mailed to Imagination Library P.O. Box 660 Cassville, MO 65625, or dropped off at a local Security Bank of Southwest Missouri branch.
“We would love to recognize all of our sponsors so please send us an email with your donation information and your permission to proceed with recognizing your contribution to our children,” the release said. “Thank you for your consideration. Together we can give children the building blocks they need for a bright future.”
