Charlotte County Imagination Library

09/08/2026

09/08/2026

This is a reminder that we are looking for people to join our 1,000 club. We are looking for 1,000 people to make a $10 a month commitment to keep books flowing to the children in Charlotte County. We currently are sending out 2,866 books a month and we need your help. Can we count on you? Please consider the Charlotte County Imagination Library when you are making donations to make the world a better place. Click the link below to start your efforts to benefit early childhood literacy today.

https://charlottecountyimaginationlibrary.org/

Please share this post to spread the message and hopefully we can reach our goal by the end of the year.

09/08/2026

Ok. The countdown continues. Two more days until the fun begins. We've got our quarters ready and we hope you do, too. The Charity Quarter Frenzy is right around the corner. Put a reminder on your calendar or in your phone. You're not going to want to miss out on all of the fun!

09/08/2026

📚 Happy National Literacy Day!

Today, we celebrate the life-changing power of reading and look at one of the most beautiful legacies in education: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Did you know that this incredible global movement started from a place of deep, personal love? Dolly’s father, Robert Lee Parton, was an incredibly smart and hardworking man, but growing up in the mountains of East Tennessee, he never had the opportunity to learn how to read or write. Seeing his struggles—and knowing how much he could have achieved with an education—inspired Dolly to take action. In 1995, she launched the Imagination Library in her home county to honor her dad. What started as a small project mailing a few hundred books to local kids has grown into a global phenomenon. To date, the foundation has gifted over 300 million free books to children from birth to age five across five countries!

Dolly famously said: “If you can read, then you can self-educate yourself. There’s a book out there on everything you want to know.”

Today, let's honor Robert Lee Parton's legacy and Dolly’s vision by opening a book, reading with a child, or supporting local literacy programs.

✨ "The more you dream, the more you learn. The more you learn, the more you care." ✨

Please like, share, comment and/or give us a follow. We sure appreciate your support.

09/07/2026

9 to 5 day is fast approaching. Have you registered your business to participate? This is an opportunity to Do Something Dolly at work for $9.25. This money goes directly to Charlotte County Imagination Library to help get books into the hands of children in Charlotte County. We hope you join in the fun!!! Register your place of business here: https://charlottecountyimaginationlibrary.org/

If your place of business isn't participating but you still want to make a donation this same link is an opportunity for you to help.

09/07/2026

Have you ever attended Comedy for a Cause? It's a night of fun and laughter. The player/comedians are all represented by different non-profits around town. Gaylin, our executive director, is representing Charlotte County Imagination Library and she could use a boost in her fundraising and we're asking for your help. Here is an opportunity to boost her fundraising and giving directly to our cause of making sure childhood literacy in Charlotte County gets a boost, too. Click this link to help make it all happen https://bit.ly/GaylinMorris

We sure appreciate and thank you for all that you do!

09/07/2026

We're getting closer to our Charity Quarter Frenzy and couldn't be more excited. Only 3 days left to wrangle up your quarters. I hope you have us on the calendar. It will be a fun time you won't want to miss.

09/07/2026

Here's another tip to raise a lifelong reader? 📚✨

Early childhood literacy isn't just about learning to decode words on a page—it is about creating joyful, connected experiences! If you want to boost your child's reading engagement, small shifts in how you read together can make a massive difference.

Each week we will post Reading Engagement Tips that will make great memories and develop a love for reading while encouraging childhood literacy. Here's another great tip:

• The Tip: Do the silly voices! You do not need to be a professional actor. Just changing your pitch for a big bear or speeding up your words for a fast rabbit builds deep emotional engagement and helps kids connect sounds with character emotions.
• The Question: Be honest, parents: What is the most ridiculous, funny, or exhausting character voice you are currently forced to perform on repeat for bedtime stories? 🐻 Voice clips or descriptions welcome below! 👇

Every single click helps our posts show up for local families who might not know about the Charlotte County Imagination Library yet. Thank you for being part of our village and helping us raise the next generation of bookworms! ❤️Please give us a like, share, follow or comment. It really spreads the message.

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day from everyone at Charlotte County Imagination Library.

09/07/2026

https://forms.gle/8Kak8u43oUxNPbdy5

Hello friends,

I am reaching out to invite you, your family, workplace, church, organization, club and community connections to participate in something very special we are developing through Gilstad Literacy Foundation and Charlotte County Imagination Library.

Following the national response to Dolly Parton’s passing, we learned that Imagination Library affiliates, organizations and Dolly supporters across the country are preparing community-led celebrations of her life, legacy, philanthropy and contributions to early childhood literacy on Friday, Sept. 25. Because the date is 9/25, communities are connecting the celebration to Dolly’s iconic song “9 to 5.”

We want Charlotte County to be part of this growing national movement. Our featured local activity will be a “Dress Up for Dolly Day,” modeled after the blue-jean-day fundraisers many workplaces already hold. Businesses, schools, government offices, churches, clubs and organizations can register and invite participants to make a voluntary $9.25 donation to Charlotte County Imagination Library. Participants can then wear appropriate Dolly-inspired attire, such as pink, denim, rhinestones, butterflies, boots or sparkle.

Holding a fundraiser is not required. You can also participate by decorating, displaying Imagination Library information, sharing the campaign on social media, encouraging eligible families to enroll, making a group donation, organizing a reading activity, taking a group photograph or joining a special community moment at 9:25 a.m.

Please register your workplace, church, organization, club or group here:

https://forms.gle/8Kak8u43oUxNPbdy5

Registration will allow us to provide campaign materials, recognize participants, showcase their activities and measure participation throughout Charlotte County.

I am asking each of you to help us spread the word. Please invite your employer, coworkers, friends, family members, church, clubs and community organizations to participate. You are also welcome to forward this email and the attached press release to anyone who may be interested.

Charlotte County Imagination Library currently mails a free, age-appropriate book every month to 2,591 local children from birth through age 5. Since March 2012, we have mailed 267,027 books, celebrated 10,464 graduates and served more than 13,000 Charlotte County children. Every local donation helps us continue putting books directly into the hands of children in our community.

We are still in the beginning stages, but based on the national response and the interest we are already seeing locally, I believe this could become something very special for Charlotte County. I have attached our current press release with additional information, and I will continue providing updates as participation grows and campaign materials are finalized.

Please help us make sure every part of Charlotte County has an opportunity to participate. Together, we can celebrate Dolly, support local children and continue the early childhood literacy mission she inspired.

Thank you for always supporting Charlotte County Imagination Library and the children we serve.

Warmly,

Shawn Gilstad
Founder and Community Champion
Charlotte County Imagination Library
Gilstad Literacy Foundation
Direct: (941) 830-4746
[email protected]
Organization: (941) 628-3734
[email protected]

Dolly Parton Day is 9/25: Here's How to Join the Celebrations. Read the full story at the link in our comments below. 👇️