Harriet and JeannetteLast month, The Imagination Library of Grant County (ILGC) received 3 grants for their early literacy program totaling $2000 from Walmart, Albertsons/Safeway/Vons, and the Town and Country Garden Club. Nancy Stephens, Program Coordinator for the ILGC, says, "It's really nice to receive support from within Grant County, because it shows the community cares about and is willing to invest in its youngest members." According to Barbara Nelson, ILGC President, "Money raised in Grant County stays in Grant County."

Beneficiaries of the Imagination Library program include the 1340 Grant County children who receive personally addressed books in the mail each month, their families and the community as a whole. While the benefits to the community are long-term and not as quantifiable, Stephens points out that parent surveys and results from the group's 3 year longitudinal study indicate the program is having an impact on reading proficiency and the parenting skills of families receiving books. Comments collected during the non-profit's annual survey include: "Dad is more excited to read to our daughter", "The whole family reads a new book every time they come in the mail", and "We love the bilingual books!"

Pictured here are Jeannette Giese, President of the Town and County Garden Club, with Harriet Rogers, Secretary. Both value reading as a gateway to learning and are pleased to support the Imagination Library. Jeannette says, "Reading begins Day One!" and Harriet adds, "I cannot imagine life without books."

Giese and Rogers are holding the yellow welcome bags which the Imagination Library gives to caregivers when they register children for books in person. The tote bag includes toys, parenting suggestions, child development information obtained from New Mexico's Department of Health Family Infant Toddler program (FIT) as well as from the U.S. Center for Disease Control, and a CD with traditional children's songs and poetry. The bags are one way ILGC tries to encourage all parents to read, sing, talk and play with their children.

The Imagination Library of Grant County will host a volunteer open house August 24th. The not for profit organization seeks volunteers to help with quarterly mailings, book registrations and other projects. For more information contact The Imagination Library of Grant County at 575.519.4464 or visit their website at www.ImaginationLibraryGC.org.