In 2019, former Wessington Springs resident Jessica Kingery, with the help of Springs Area Community Club and Wessington Springs Area Community Foundation, spearheaded an effort to help grow the love of reading among young children with the arrival of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
Now, in 2025, an all-time record number of young children, ages 0-5, are enrolled in the program. In recent years, Kaycee Coleman of Wessington Springs has been coordinating the program, and said that donations are needed to continue providing books to young children in the local area.
“The great news is over 40 kids in our area ages 0-5 receive a brand new book each month. The not so great news is that it takes donations to keep this program rolling,” Coleman explained.
What is Imagination Library?
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading and learning by gifting books, free of charge to families, through funding shared by Dolly and local community partnerships. Children under the age of five living in the Wessington Springs School District or attending Wessington Springs Elementary School qualify to participate and receive a free book in the mail each and every month.
How to Donate
“If you feel inclined, please donate — anything helps. The kids registered receive new books in the mail every month thanks to these generous donations,” said Coleman.
Donations can be directed to Imagination Library and mailed to Kaycee Coleman at P.O. Box 100, Wessington Springs, SD 57382