'Imagination Library' Program benefits area youth

The First Trust and Savings Bank's mascot, Barkley, welcomes Denise Fredericksen and her grandchildren, Alexa Fredericksen 7 and Bryson Fredericksen 5 , to the kickoff event for the Imagination Library in Aurelia Tuesday. If both kids were just a little younger, they could have been signed up for once-a-month free books. Photo by Dan Whitney. [Click to enlarge]

A lot of young readers (and future readers) in Cherokee County got a big head start this week thanks to First Trust and Savings Bank, the Cherokee County Legacy Foundation, and Dolly Parton.

The singer is the founder of "Dolly Parton's Imagination Library," where children aged 5 years and younger can have one book a month mailed to them until their fifth birthday, and the Cherokee County Legacy Foundation and First Trust banks of Aurelia, Marcus and Cleghorn have teamed up to make this wonderful program available to area pre-schoolers in the Aurelia and Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn school districts.

A kickoff event for the program was held at the Marcus branch of FTS on Monday, at the Aurelia branch on Tuesday, and in Cleghorn on Wednesday. People who attended were able to sign up eligible children for the Imagination Library between 5:30 and 7 p.m. on those evenings, and also enjoyed cake and lemonade and FTS' mascot, Barkley.

Bank mascot Barkley was chaffeured to the area "Imagination Library" event in style. Photo by Dan Whitney. [Click to enlarge]

Children also received a coupon for a free ice cream cone from the Main Street Pharmacy and Soda Fountain of Cherokee. Several sample books from the program were also displayed, along with brochures explaining more about the Imagination Library program.

FTS President Mark Pingrey and Legacy Foundation secretary Penny Pingrey, the Coordinators of the FTS Dolly Parton Imagination Library, were also on hand to welcome those who came, and to explain the program and answer questions.

Penny Pingrey said on Thursday that a total of 69 people signed up for the program during the kick-off - 36 in Marcus, 12 in Aurelia, and 21 in Cleghorn - but added that she is expecting more people to sign up, as she has received calls from others. The Imagination Library is a "perpetual program," said Pingrey, and people may sign up at any time.

Refreshments at the Bank - Cookies and lemonade were served at the Imagination Library Kick-Off event. Here, Penny Pingrey (left) helps customer Denise Federicksen and her grandchildren, Alexa and Bryson, at the Aurelia kick-off. Photo by Dan Whitney [Click to enlarge]

FTS and the Cherokee County Legacy Foundation state that they are proud to be able to make such a positive impact on the lives of young children, and look forward to continue serving their communities and supporting their customers.

A sample of the books in the Imagination Library was displayed at the kickoff event. Photo by Dan Whitney