Life-size cutout promotes Imagination Library

The United Way of Tuscarawas County wants you to watch for Dolly Parton, who might turn up anywhere in the county. She may be a life-size standup version, but she’s out there, all the same, and she can lead you to prizes from area businesses, said Hannah Hartman, Engagement and Community Events Director for United Way.

“One of the first things I learned here,” Hartman said, “is that the county United Way is the partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. In looking through the office, I found this life-size cutout of Dolly and I thought, ‘we can definitely use this.’”

Taking Dolly to a recent Harcatus Head Start event at Buckeye Career Center, the organization was the center of attention. “Adults kept coming to our table and asking if they could take a picture with Dolly. It was clear that she should be seen more, that she was an asset for us.”

At the same Time, Tuscarawas County United Way Director Sarah Spies had been looking for an event to promote a showing of a new documentary, “The Library That Dolly Built,” which describes how the Imagination Library came about. The Imagination Library, begun by Parton, mails free books to children from birth to age 5; all their parents need do is register.

“So we got the idea of taking Dolly to many locations around the county,” said Hartman, “so people could spot her and register to win prizes.” It was a good way to promote the presentation of the documentary, which is scheduled for Thursday Aug. 14 at the Lynn Drive-In Theater in Strasburg. The gate that night opens at 7 p.m. with activities for children presented by the Tuscarawas County Public library and the county YMCA, while the film gets underway at dusk, about 8:30 p.m. Admission is free and the public is welcome.

Pictures of Dolly in a dozen settings are posted every few days to the United Way social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and LinkedIn. “You get to guess where she is from her surroundings,” said Hartman. “There’s a link at each posting which leads to our website, where you can fill out a form to register for some great prizes.”

“Great prizes” is as specific as Hartman can get, she said. “Well, they’re gifts from each of the places where we have placed Dolly, so if we tell you what the prizes are, that would give away the locations. I promise they’re great prizes, and people will like them.” She said the United Way has seen a lot of guesses flooding in. “People have been really into it.”

“Parents really love Dolly’s Imagination Library,” Hartman said. “I think many of them are kind of bummed that such a thing wasn’t available when they were kids, or when their own kids were under 5. It’s an awesome program and we’re thrilled to be a part of it locally in our own small way here in our community.”

The Imagination Library began in 1995 with a small program in Tennessee. It has grown into a worldwide network distributing millions of books to young children. Parents can visit imaginationlibrary.com to register their children to receive a book each month.

Coming up, the schedule includes an upcoming pickle ball tournament Labor Day, plus a Brews and Bites event with local beers and snacks at Kent State University at Tuscarawas Sept. 13.

Sponsors for the premier of “The Library That Dolly Built” include Dover-Phila Federal Credit Union and The New Philadelphia Rotary Club. Also sponsoring are Frontier Community Connections Fund and The Commercial and Savings Bank.

Learn more at tuscunitedway.org.