It is through our valued partnership with the Allen, Logan, and Simpson Community Early Childhood Council that the Simpson County Cooperative Extension Service, seek to improve childhood literacy, reading and learning and encouraging family interaction and involvement.  

To promote family involvement and improve childhood literacy, the Allen, Logan, and Simpson Community Early Childhood Council held the 2023 Simpson County Imagination Library Event reaching 369 registered attendees, partnered with 30 community sponsors and donors and worked with 15 local vendors. Leading up to this event, the Simpson County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent provided recipe cards in a local grocery store and hosted a “Where’s Waldo” planting a seed activity at the Extension Office. At the event, families learned about healthy habits and nutrition, were able to ride the blender bike to make nutritious smoothies and received books and learning activities for parents and children to complete together.   

The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five, through funding shared by Dolly Parton and local community partners in the United States and internationally.  The Simpson County Chapter of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was able to fundraise $21,415. and able to accept all pending enrollments for the program, totaling 560 registered children, ages birth to 5 years receiving one free book each month.  One participant said this was such a great event, and their child loves receiving his free book every month!