Saturday, January 18, 2025, may have been a cold, wintry day outside, but
the atmosphere inside Stir Crockett, Alamo’s well-known and much-loved local
coffee shop, was warm, welcoming, and bustling with energy. For the second
year in a row, Stir Crockett, located at 33 E. Main St. and owned by Shannon
Haynes, celebrated Dolly Parton’s 79 th birthday by showcasing Crockett County’s
Imagination Library, a program begun by Dolly Parton in 1995. With pink walls,
a larger-than-life picture of Dolly herself, and posters of Dolly, it was the perfect
place to honor this Tennessee celebrity and to feature books, stories, and the
joy and love of reading!
Many special activities were planned for the day: a visit with Miss
Tristar/West Tennessee Family of Queens, story times at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM,
12:30 PM, and 1:30 PM; Dolly’s coloring competition, and special Dolly drinks
that included Neon Cowgirl, Tennessee Tornado, Jolene, 9 – 5 soda, and Triple D
“Dolly’s Diamond Drink.” In addition to drawing awareness to Imagination
Library, 10% of all sales that day went to this impactful program. Winner of the
coloring contest drawing and a $25 Stir gift certificate was Lila Claire Smith,
who, along with her mom, Lacey Smith, enjoyed the morning celebrating
stories, books, and Dolly.
Dolly Parton began the program in Sevier County, her home county,
because it was her dream “that all children should grow up in a home full of
books.” The program provides every registered child from birth to age five, a
monthly book at no cost to families, delivered to his or her very own mailbox.
The Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation matches the funds raised by each
county. By the time each child reaches kindergarten, he or she has a home
library of sixty age-appropriate books selected by childhood experts. A donation
of $27 will provide monthly books to a child for an entire year.
To enroll a child into the program, the Imagination Library may be
accessed at www.governorsfoundation.org. Donations, honorariums, or
memorials may be mailed to Crockett County Imagination Library, P.O. Box 445,
Alamo, TN 38001.