Thanks to strong community support, Lakes Area United Way is able to offer Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program.

Imagination Library is a program offering free books to kids aged birth through 5 years of age. Studies have shown a direct correlation between the number of books in the home with early childhood literacy rates, which directly impact a child's reading ability when entering kindergarten. With Imagination Library, participating kids receive one age-appropriate book in the mail each month, and any children under 5 who reside in Crow Wing, Aitkin or Cass Counties are eligible for enrollment. While our local office pays for the program, it is free to those enrolled.

Sponsoring a child through Imagination Library is a great way to encourage early childhood literacy. Research demonstrates literacy rates at the beginning of kindergarten are strong indicators of future academic and professional success. By investing in Imagination Library, you invest in our youngest generation and our community as a whole. For only $30, you can give a child the gift of literacy by providing them with one book each month for an entire year. This donation multiplies tenfold to be a large impact on a child's future.