Storybridge to expand Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to children in Armstrong County, celebrating at Caprock Roundup Celebration

ARMSTRONG COUNTY, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Storybridge is celebrating the expansion of local coverage to Armstrong County for kids eligible to enroll in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the globally recognized book-gifting program partners with local nonprofit organizations to provide a free book in the mail every month for children from birth to their fifth birthday.

According to officials with Storybridge, Storybridge has provided this program to Potter and Randall County children since 2021. Officials noted that Lee and Leslie Whitaker of Whitaker Real Estate decided to financially sponsor the program for children in Armstrong County after they heard that Storybridge was looking for a financial partner.

Officials stated that the mission of Storybridge is to make sure every child in the area owns at least 20 age-appropriate books in their home from birth through fifth grade and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is one of five programs that Storybridge operates to address the need for more universal access to books for children.

Storybridge officials also stated that Dolly Parton does not pay for all the books instead Dolly partners with local nonprofit organizations around the world, provides shipping and processing, and the cost to Storybridge is $26 per child per year despite nonprofits raising the money locally to cover the costs for the books.

Storybridge Director Chandra Perkins credits the growth of the program to the philanthropic

spirit of the Panhandle.

“Since we first launched Imagination Library for Potter and Randall Counties in 2021,

we have been dreaming about the day that every child in the Panhandle would be able

to participate,” said Storybridge Director, Chandra Perkins. “The truth is that the need for more access to literacy is sometimes even greater in more rural areas. We are so grateful to have the generous support of individuals and organizations that come together to support kids in the Amarillo and Canyon area, and now thanks to Whitaker Real Estate the children in Claude will be included in the tremendous impact of early literacy access.”

According to officials, Storybridge has over 8,000 children enrolled in the program and has been the largest Imagination Library provider in Texas for almost 3 years.

“When people realize how affordable it really is to have this kind of direct impact on a child’s academic future, they can’t wait to be part of the team making it possible,” said Perkins.

To celebrate the new expansion with Armstrong County, Storybridge will be present at the 92nd Caprock Roundup Celebration in Claude on July 13 and officials encourage all Armstrong County families with children under 5 years old to stop by the book trailer and get their child signed up for free books.

“The activities we enjoy with the children in our lives is always time well spent,” said Joe Minkley, the Mayor of Claude. “Reading age-related books, with topics they enjoy, allows our children to learn and grow while building a special loving bond between us. The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and Storybridge project is a wonderful effort that will be a great benefit to the children and families in Claude and Armstrong County.”

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