she said . “ You can tell when a child comes to school that hasn ’ t been read to , there is a huge difference .”
Jeffrey said to accomplish this goal , they partnered with the Duncan Public Schools Foundation ( DPSF ) and are currently working on their own 501 ( c )( 3 ) for the Stephens County chapter of Imagination Library .
According to Jeffrey , through the program , families who have children from birth to their fifth birthday can register with the program . Then after registering , they will receive a book each month by mail through their fifth birthday .
“ The benefits of this program are not unmeasurable ,” she said . “ However , some impacts we will see are bridging the gap in early literacy , bringing families together to read a new book , teaching great parenting skills to read every night to your child , children will hear words helping to increase their vocabulary and practice great mental health by spending time with your child .”
Jeffrey said they still need donations to help those books get into the hands of area kids .
The program has three main goals : to work with Duncan , to work with all of Stephens County and eventually to work with Jefferson County .
Jeffrey said statistics show Stephens County has an illiteracy rate of 13 %.
A child can increase their vocabulary just by someone reading to them . They can go from learning 4,662 words , to learning over 169,000 words , if they are read to three to five times a week .
Jeffrey said when a child receives a book from the program , they are high quality and age appropriate .
“ To date , the library has given over 185 million books to children in five countries ,” she said . “ Swansea research has proven that children receiving books from the Imagination Library read more frequently and perform better at reading and development assessments than their peers .”
Nancy Bowling , co-director , said
LIONS CLUB MEMBERS SUBMIT A CHECK DONATION TO THE STEPHENS COUNTY CHAPTER OF DOLLY PARTON ’ S IMAGINATION LIBRARY .
after hearing about the Oklahoma State Department of Education ( OSDE ) and their partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library , she contacted to pursue more information .
Bowling said she ’ s grateful to be part of bringing this program to the city and county , along with her codirectors , Jeffrey and Judy Dittner .
“ We are all in this together — the Three Musketeers ,” she said . “ We all had the same desire and visions for our community and youth .”
According to Bowling , they have received immediate responses to bring this to the area .
“ It ’ s remarkable the response , but certainly understandable as people understand this opportunity for Duncan and our surrounding community ,” she said .
Bowling said the program allows for so many opportunities for children in the community .
“ Our children are fortunate to have the educational advantage of books and familial relationships that explore the wonders of reading ,” she said . “ All can be involved in a community empowering and emphasizing the awe and wonder of our world adventures through books , from great-grandparents down to the 0-5 year old range this initiative serves .”
According to Bowling , this outreach program will help to benefit those in the community to reach new goals .
“ Those underserved and culturally deprived youth are raised to a level playing field with their counterparts ,” she said . “ It ’ s a generational shift towards a future that benefits our public education institutions , community and businesses as they will now be empowered to set and reach their own goals , dreams and aspirations .”
Bowling shared how the local community is a giving community and strives to help drive success in youth .
For those who want to donate to the program , it ’ s $ 27 to provide books to a child for two years or two children can get books for one year .
The program received a $ 1,000 donation from the Duncan Noon Lions Club recently . Later , after totals were added , Jeffrey gave an update for funds raised to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to town . As of the last count received by The Banner staff , they are sitting at $ 11,440.40 and there are several pledges still on the way .
Jeffrey said for those who donate a specific amount , such as $ 1,000 , you will have the ability , for one month , to put your name inside of a book going to the kids of Duncan .
For more information about Dolly Parton ’ s Imagination Library , visit https :// imaginationlibrary . com or OSDE ’ s site at https :// sde . ok . gov / imagination-library .
To donate to the program , make donations payable to Duncan Public Schools Foundation , Attention : Imagination Library and mail them to PO Box 1882 Duncan , Oklahoma 73534 . DM
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