The Imagination Library of Marion County was recently founded this past spring and currently has 372 kids enrolled in the program.

The Imagination Library gifts books to area children ages 0-5 and has mailed out over 1,000 books to local children, with more on the way. The program in Marion County is a part of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which is a non-profit organization that gives out free, age-appropriate books worldwide. Each child enrolled in the program receives one book per month from birth to age five – at no cost to families. Amy Uthus with the Imagination Library of Marion County says that the program is actively looking for donations and that all contributions stay within the community.

“100% of the donations that are given to our local branch stay here. So, it doesn’t go to some national organization where may or may not affect our kids in the future. It all stays here, and it all goes directly to our kids.”

For more information, visit imaginationlibrary.com. Hear more about the Imagination Library of Marion County from Amy Uthus on an upcoming In Touch with South Central Iowa.