Funds needed for reading program

The Children's Resource Center seeks funds to help with their Dolly Parton Imagination Library reading program. Elizabeth Accurso, a classroom teacher at CRC, said Hot Springs County was the first county in Wyoming to adopt the program.

"It's a program that allows kids from birth to age 5 to get a book sent to their house every month," she said. "That's 60 books before they begin kindergarten."

Accurso said this is the fourth year the Children's Resource Center has participated in the program. It costs $25 per child per year to participate.

"We do it because we want to emphasize the importance of reading," she said. "We must raise $4,000 a year to sustain the program. We are extremely low on funds at this time."

Jars have been set up at several local businesses to raise funds for the program, Accurso said.

"We have jars setting up around the community asking for donations," she said. "We just want to make people aware that they are there and to please donate if they are able."

Accurso said people are more than welcome to come in and donate directly at the Children's Resource Center. There will be other fundraising efforts in the future for the program, Accurso said.

CRC partnered with Dolly Parton in January 2012 and enrolled 50 children in the program. In the partnership, CRC is responsible to locate funding costs of postage and books, register and promote the program and manage any returned books and Dolly Parton covers administrative costs. The Dolly Parton program selects age appropriate current books to send to enrolled children.

Hot Springs County averages 50 kids per grade level and aims to have approximately 200-250 kids registered. At this time, there are 146 children in the program. Since it began in the county, 98 children have graduated from the program.

To enroll your child in the Dolly Parton program or to donate, contact CRC at 307-864-9227.