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The Charlotte County Imagination Library gets books to local children for free. Above, a volunteer reads to kids during a Imagination Library carnival in 2023.<\/p>\n
SUN FILE PHOTO BY STEVE LINEBERRY<\/p>\n
PORT CHARLOTTE \u2014 Gaylin Morris wants the community to celebrate \u201cDolly Parton Day\u201d on Sept. 25.<\/p>\n
Morris, the executive director of The Charlotte County Imagination Library, hoping for some official government proclamations.<\/p>\n
The date is a nod to Parton\u2019s hit song \u201c9 to 5.\u201d (It\u2019s 9\/25, get it?)<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are all celebrating Dolly\u2019s legacy of getting books into the hands of children,\u201d Morris said. \u201cWe\u2019re celebrating her kindness, her love for everyone and all that Dolly is about.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris requests businesses, organizations, schools and other agencies host events or reading-focused celebrations on Sept. 25.<\/p>\n
Morris encourages communities celebrate through book readings, decorations, dressing like Parton and fund raising.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not having a location to come for a celebration,\u201d Morris said. \u201cIt\u2019s a push for others to conduct readings.\u201d<\/p>\n
She sent a request to Charlotte County commissioners and Punta Gorda\u2019s City Council to officially proclaim Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day.<\/p>\n
As of Wednesday, the County Commission included on its Sept. 22 meeting agenda<\/a> a proclamation to make Sept. 25 \u201cDolly Parton 9-to-5 Early Literacy Day.\u201d Punta Gorda City Council will do the same on Sept. 23.<\/a><\/p>\n The Charlotte County Imagination Library is administered by the Gilstad Literacy Foundation. It\u2019s an affiliate of the national organization, Dolly Parton\u2019s Imagination Library.<\/p>\n The program mails free books each month to registered families. A child can receive books from the time they are born until they reach their fifth birthday.<\/p>\n \u201cMy passion is for families with younger babies that have not started kindergarten yet to read to their children, and this program assists with that,\u201d Morris said.<\/p>\n Organizations participating in Dolly Parton Day can fill out the library\u2019s Google form at: tinyurl.com\/a4nmb376<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cShe was the epiphany of love and kindness, and she loved every single person for who they were,\u201d Morris said. \u201cI strive to be like her and live that way.\u201d<\/p>\n The Gilstad Literacy Foundation is partnering with Charlotte Players to host the fundraising event Comedy for a Cause on Oct. 23 at Twisted Fork restaurant in Port Charlotte. Morris said she will participate to raise money for the Imagination Library.<\/p>\n