SIDNEY — Scott Barr, executive director of the Shelby County United Way, reports “Shelby County has reached 40.5 percent enrollment of all Shelby County Children under the age of 5. This is an amazing feat to accomplish in just five months of our launch. We would not have achieved the high enrollment numbers without the partnership of Wilson Health. Their staff is enrolling every new infant at the birthing center. We have over 1,380 children enrolled and there have been over 6,000 books mailed to our children.”

Imagination Library is an early literacy program for children under the age of 5 started by Dolly Parton. At no cost to the family, an age-appropriate book is mailed monthly to the family’s address. Studies show children enrolled in Imagination Library are better prepared for kindergarten, are read to more often, and have more books and visits to the local libraries than children not enrolled.

“This program is an investment into our community with an effort to improve children’s literacy skills and improve kindergarten readiness,” Barr said.

This program is administered by the Shelby County Libraries and is supported locally by the Shelby County United Way, Shelby County Libraries, Sidney City Schools, Midwest Regional ESC, Sidney Altrusa, Kiwanis, Rotary, POWER, Monarch Legacy Fund and Wilson Health.

Imagination Library is one of the 27 funded programs supported by the Shelby County United Way. Donors can support the United Way through their workplace campaign or my making gift to the annual campaign. For more information about the Shelby County United Way, visit www.shelbycounitedway.org, by Facebook at Shelby County United Way, or call 937-492-2101.

After week one, the campaign has received $142,804 towards the campaign goal of $1,325,000.