On May 23, the Lions Club donated $4,000 to bring Dolly Parton Imagination Library books to children on the Sunshine Coast.
The Sunshine Coast Lions Club has a long history of partnering with the school district to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. This program mails a high quality, age-appropriate book directly to the homes of families with young children every month until their fifth birthday. Through generous donations such as this, more than 60,000 books have been sent to Sunshine Coast children.
Reading books to children is one of the most important ways to support their language, literacy and social and emotional development. Research shows that children who have books in their homes come to school with important knowledge that is predictive of early literacy success.
Parents on the Sunshine Coast can register to receive these books free of charge at the SPARK! Program, which offers free information sessions for parents with young children three times a year until their child enters Kindergarten. Parents attend the program with other parents who have children the same age, right from infancy to age five. Each session of SPARK! shares different age-appropriate fun activities for parents and caregivers to do at home with their children.
SPARK! sessions are held in a variety of locations on the Sunshine Coast and at a variety of times. Virtual sessions are offered in the evenings, and in-person sessions are offered with child-minding provided on site.
For more information and to register for these free programs, visit the school district website: early-learning.sd46.bc.ca or contact Kirsten Deasey, district principal of learning, innovation and child care at [email protected]
Millions of Imagination Library books are sent out in Canada and around the world, and through the generous support of the Lions Club and other local donations, the Sunshine Coast is nationally recognized as the longest standing affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program in all of Canada!
