Orange County Books and Beyond (OCBB) celebrated its official launch Saturday.
The nonprofit organization is helping bring books to the county’s youngest residents by serving as the local sponsor for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Parton’s program was created to foster a love of reading among preschool children and their families. It began in 1995 in East Tennessee and has expanded throughout the United States as well as Canada, the UK and Australia. The program mails high-quality, age appropriate books directly to the homes of registered children. Children up to age 5 are eligible. Today, the program sends more than one million books to children around the world each month.
The Imagination Library partners with local affiliates and partners who help bring the program to their area. The local affiliate is responsible for enrolling children in their chosen coverage area, promoting the program and providing the funds to cover the cost of books and shipping fees. Due to wholesale pricing negotiated by the Imagination Library, the affiliate pays only $2.60 per child per month.
Orange County Books and Beyond is a 501(c)(3) organization and is the first Imagination Library affiliate to serve Orange County and the surrounding immediate area. Other localities in Virginia participate, but until this year Orange County hasn’t had a sponsoring organization to bring the program to the county.
Saturday’s event served as a way to celebrate the launch of the program in the county. OCBB began enrolling children in Imagination Library in March. More than 325 children have been enrolled with a goal of reaching all approximately 2,000 children under the age of 5 in Orange County.
“Saturday’s event had a fantastic turnout and we were thrilled to see families having so much fun,” OCBB’s Deanne Marshall said.
Children enjoyed face painting by Orange County FFA members, a hands-on planting project from the Rapidan River Master Gardeners, barrel train rides by the Orange County Fair Association and free books and prizes from the Orange County Education Foundation. There was also a bounce house, bubbles and a community art project, plus a petting zoo from Pets with a Purpose and Gale Berry’s lambs. At noon, Sandra Blackburn channeled her inner Dolly, reading a book to children.
In addition to activities for children, the Orange County Farm Bureau packed meal boxes for the Love Outreach Food Pantry and the Rotary Club of Orange collected hygiene products for the pantry.
The OCBB Imagination Library program is being made possible through partnerships with the Orange County Education Foundation, the Rotary Club of Orange and the Lions Club. Additional funding is needed with plans to pursue grants and other partnerships to ensure long-term sustainability.
Donations and inquiries can be sent to Orange County Books and Beyond, P.O. Box 183, Orange, VA 22960. The organization can also be reached via email at ocbooksandbeyond@gmail.com.
Families with children under the age of 5 in Orange County can sign up at ocvabooksandbeyond.com to receive a free book in the mail each month.
