GENESEE COUNTY, MI – A pair of Flint organizations have been told a program that has put thousands of free books into the hands of area children is on an indefinite pause.

In a letter to families, Jessica Kitchner, director of the Flint & Genesee Literacy Network, said the organization and Mott Community College “have received notification that the availability of federal funding to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) in Genesee County will end on August 30, 2025.”

Kitchner notes the program will be “paused indefinitely” beginning on Monday, Sept. 1.

While she called the news “deeply disappointing,” Kitchner also celebrated the “positive impact the program has had on children and families across the country.”

The program, which started in 2016, and expanded countywide in December 2023, has provided 350,000 books to more than 21,500 children “helping them build home libraries and discover the joy of reading,” she said.

Families will continue to receive books through the end of September.

While funding is paused, Kitchner said the literacy network and Mott “are working hard to find other funding sources—local, state, and philanthropic—to bring DPIL, or a similar program, back to Genesee County in the future.”

She offered the following free options to keep children reading:

Visit your local library for story time and book borrowing (thgdl.org and fpl.info)Get involved with Great Start Collaborative Genesee, which shares early literacy resources and support for families (gsc.geneseeisd.org)Explore Little Free Libraries in your neighborhood (littlefreelibrary.org)Ask schools, community centers, or faith groups about book giveaways

“If there are any changes in the funding situation, we will reach out to you right away with updates,” Kitchner said. “Please know that we are grateful for your participation and support, and we share in your commitment to nurturing a love of reading in every child.”

Nearby in Saginaw County, the Imagination Library program continues to operate with more than 3,300 children enrolled, however, it is not currently accepting new enrollees.

“Because enrollment is so significant and the costs are very high, we have paused accepting new registrations until we can ensure funding is in place to sustain all the children already receiving books,” said Audra Davis, president and CEO of United Way of Saginaw County.

“Many people assume the program is free for local agencies to deliver, but in fact United Way of Saginaw County covers the cost of purchasing the books and the postage to mail them directly to each child’s home from the Dolly Parton program. With costs rising and enrollment high, ongoing community support is essential.”

Davis said more than 7,290 children have graduated from the program in Saginaw County, which sends free books to young children’s homes every month.

“The impact on early literacy and family reading time has been remarkable. It costs just $30 to provide a child with a year of books, and every gift helps us keep stories in the hands of Saginaw County kids,” she said.

Donations to support the Saginaw County program can be made here.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.