Dolly Day brings books and family activities to Kinston Farmers Market
A house fire displaced Julie Babbin’s grandchildren. When then-Triple P director Steve Roman helped the children with furniture, clothes and books, Babbin wanted to thank him. On Saturday, Sept. 26, she did so by organizing Dolly Day at the Lenoir County Farmers Market to help local families sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Babbin, a Community Kitchen volunteer at the farmers market, organized the event in honor of the recently retired director. Families could browse books, listen to readers and learn how to register children for the Imagination Library.
“Today we are celebrating Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and the Partnership for Children of Lenoir and Greene Counties,” Babbin said. “We’re having children sign up to register, to listen to books. We have our Kinston Famous Readers. There are books here. We have the library joining us, cookies and pink lemonade, and just celebrating all things Dolly.”
Sasha Dorsey, community engagement and family services coordinator for the Partnership for Children of Lenoir and Greene Counties, helped families learn about the program.
“I am with the Partnership for Children of Lenoir and Greene Counties,” Dorsey said. “I am the community engagement and family services coordinator, and I’m over the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.”
Tah’Ron Cannon was among the readers. He said the chance to read to children reminded him of his own childhood.
“I took the opportunity to read today because it reminded me a lot about my youth,” Cannon said. “I used to do a lot of reading, and reading exposed me to the world. It’s something I enjoy doing. I think that every child should have an opportunity to have books and to read, to explore the world and create something.”
Edward Chisholm, the partnership’s director, attended in support of the celebration.
“I’m the director of the partnership, and I’m here to support 9 to 5 Dolly Day, having a great time with the families and children,” Chisholm said. “This is a great turnout.”
The event also offered arts and crafts and music. Families with children from birth through age 5 were invited to register for the Imagination Library on site.
