It’s only been a few days since the world lost music icon Dolly Parton. Tributes and memorials all over the country show just how much she meant but many fans are taking a page out of Dolly’s book, making sure her legacy lives on through their actions.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It’s only been a few days since the world lost music icon Dolly Parton. Tributes and memorials all over the country show just how much she meant but many fans are taking a page out of Dolly’s book, making sure her legacy lives on through their actions.
When people think of Dolly Parton, music is probably one of the first things that comes to mind. But following her death Tuesday, the community is learning about a different side of her.
Dolly’s legacy beyond music
“They don’t need to respond, but we can sense that they’re grateful to Dolly Parton,” said Kathy Chilton, a volunteer with Libros for Kids.
Parton started the nonprofit Imagination Library in 1995; which provides free books to kids from birth to five years old. Since then, it’s gone global. Lance and Kathy Chilton helped bring the program to New Mexico.
“John Heidrich, who is our president, discovered that Dolly Parton had made it possible [to give] away 150 million books and none here, because there was not a nonprofit affiliate. So together we formed a nonprofit affiliate, so we could collaborate with Dolly,” Kathy Chilton said.
From there, Libros for Kids was born. And for the past nine years, they’ve helped provided more than 369,000 books to local kids.
“We’ve just thought how important it is that children have books to read,” said Lance Chilton, vice president of Libros for Kids.
“And develop a joy of reading, but we also have learned that having family members or friends read to and with the child really creates a bond that’s not possible with a screen,” Kathy Chilton said.
New Mexicans take “Live like Dolly” to heart
KOB 4 spoke to the Chilton’s Tuesday. In just three days, they saw a jump in interest.
“It was just a remarkable increase. In the number of new sign-ups, I worked [Friday] morning to enter more than 300 new children in our two counties into the system, so that they will start getting books very soon,” Lance Chilton said.
Libros for Kids helps provide books for children in Valencia and Bernalillo counties.
“There are 10,700 some children getting the book every month. That many, and it’s taken a long time to work up to that number, and now it’s 300 some more just in two days,” Kathy Chilton said.
In New Mexico, parents have the option to choose bilingual books so parents and children can read in both English and Spanish.
“It’s really important that kids be read to in language they can understand,” Lance Chilton said.
But it’s not just the new signups. In those same days, Libros for Kids received about $2,000 in donations.
“Libros for Kids is totally volunteer. We don’t have an office. Volunteers handle every aspect of it. So to get a donation means a great deal,” Kathy Chilton said.
“Dolly Parton had made it possible for a $30 donation means one child 12 books a year,” Kathy Chilton said.
Those $2,000 comes out to providing about 67 kids with free books for an entire year, allowing Parton’s legacy to live on.
“She makes it possible. She made it possible, and will continue,” Kathy Chilton said.
It’s not just metro kids who can get free books—the state partnered with local nonprofits and Imagination Library to bring the program to any New Mexico child. You can sign up your child, here. Note, because of increased interest, the website has been experiencing delays.
Libros for Kids will be at the “Child Care: Growing Supply” event Saturday Aug. 29 hosted by Partnership for Community Action. It’s from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. At 722 Isleta Blvd SW.
Next month, there is also a free book fair for families that Libros for Kids will be part of. It’s Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on 3315 Louisiana Blvd NE. There will be New Mexico authors signing books, chances for kids to get books and fun events for families like a magician.
