Madison Messenger - May 5th, 2019

www.madisonmessengernews.com May 5, 2019 - MADISON MESSENGER - Page 5
Putting books in kids’ hands
Dolly Parton’s Imagination
Library was launched in Sevier
County, Tenn., in 1995. Since
then, the program has expanded
across the United
States, Canada, Great Britain
and Australia.
The Imagination Library is
a partnership between the
Dolly Parton Foundation, United Way, local
educators, libraries and other sponsors and
funders. Children between the ages of newborn
and 5 years old can register to be a part
of the Imagination Library. A free, age-appropriate
book is mailed each month in the
child’s name to their home address.
United Way of Clark, Champaign and
Madison Counties recently announced that
the Imagination Library will be established
officially in Madison County with the Madison
County Power of the Purse fundraiser,
a fun event at which women come together
to raise money for the program.
Madison County’s Power of the Purse is
set for 5:30-9 p.m. May 9 at the Coughlin
Automotive Community Center on the
Madison County Fairgrounds, 205 Elm St.,
London. A silent auction, live auction, entertainment
and food are planned. Tickets are
$40 pre-sale and can be purchased by calling
(937) 324-5551 or at www.uwccmc.org.
Tickets at the door are $45.
It takes $25 per child to fund a year of
books. The program is completely
free to all children who
are registered, thanks to donors
and fundraisers. United Way of
Clark, Champaign and Madison
Counties now holds an annual
Power of the Purse event
in each of the three counties.
Bryan Howard, director of
London Public Library, stated, “The importance
of getting books into the hands of a
child cannot be emphasized enough. Early
exposure to reading helps children develop
creativity, an advanced vocabulary, interest
in different topics, and enhances a child’s
concentration. The Dolly Parton’s Imagination
Library is an amazing, free program
that gives all children and families the tools
to do this.”
Children develop much of their capacity
to learn in the first three years of life. Immersing
a child in a print-rich home can be
a stronger predictor of literacy and academic
achievement than family income.
However, in order to read with a child,
books must be in the home. An statistic reports
that in low-income neighborhoods,
there is only one age appropriate book for
every 300 households.
Go to www.uwccmc.org/dolly-partonsimagination-library
for more information
about the Imagination Library and to register
a child to receive books.
Lunch is served
Billy Martin (left), manager of Mount
Sterling American Legion Post 417,
presents a $1,000 donation to Lois Patton
for the summer children’s lunch program
at the Mount Sterling Community
Center. Patton serves as treasurer for
the center.
Supporting history
William Bill Erwin (left) of American Legion
Post 105 in London presents a
$1,000 donation to Edgar Ned DeCamp
(right), director of the Madison County
Historical Society. The Madison County
Historical Society Museum is located at
260 E. High St., London, and is open 1-
4 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays. For
historical photos and history fun facts,
visit “Madison County Ohio Historical
Society” on Facebook.
Know the signs and symptoms of a stroke:
B
E
F
A
S
T
BALANCE
UNSTEADY
EYES
BLURRY
FACIAL
DROOP
ARM
NUMBNESS
SLURRED
SPEECH
TIME:
CALL 911
Telestroke Collaborative
It is our privilege to partner with more than 23 hospitals across Ohio to provide expert stroke care
close to home. Patients receive the immediate attention they need in the comfort of their own
regional hospital while having access via video technology to Ohio State’s stroke experts. Should a
patient require additional care, a transfer to Ohio State’s Comprehensive Stroke Center is arranged.
We are a proud partner of Madison Health.
With this team in place, time is on your side.