CLARKSVILLE, Tenn (WTVF) — COVID-19 has impacted every part of our lives the way we donate. Nonprofits are feeling the pinch of the pandemic and many are worried they might have to close their doors.
Dolly Parton started the Imagination Library in 1995 in Sevier County, which gives children free books from birth to age five. The Montgomery County location was started in 2006.
It's a program, Karen Morrow says gives a child a chance to explore throughout the mind.
The Montgomery County location is serving 9,000 children. And since 2006, 20,000 children have graduated from the program. But Imagination Library isn’t possible without donations.
"We have enough money to send out books for the month of September, but we don’t have enough money to keep that going for October, November and December," said Morrow.
With stories about llamas, zoos, and vegetables; we can’t forget the page-turner about the scary monster we call COVID-19.
"It has been difficult; we had gotten money from the governor’s early literacy foundation to help us over some tough times but they can’t sustain that," Morrow said.
The pandemic has made it hard for the nonprofit to stay afloat. Morrow says they've already lost two of their fundraisers that usually raise enough funds for three to four months of books.
"Everybody’s worried nobody knows where this is going to end and what situation we’ll be in but I think the books bring comfort to the children," Morrow said.
There are a few ways people can help the Montgomery County Imagination Library:
1. Donate online (Make sure to designate the gift to Montgomery County)
2. Send a check made payable to Montgomery County Imagination Library to Montgomery County Public Library, 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 501, Clarksville TN 37040
