Dolly Day was held on Sept. 25.

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Last month, local real estate agent Stephanie Hicks and her team set up donation stations and posters to celebrate “Dolly Day” on Sept. 25.

Hicks, who chairs the Dolly Imagination Library in San Benito County under the direction of United for San Benito’s director Vicki Fortino, is leading outreach and marketing efforts to commemorate the legendary singer and philanthropist Dolly Parton, who died at 80 years old on Aug. 25. 

That effort to promote literacy and access to books continues in honor of the late Country icon.

At the Hollister Epicenter United for San Benito office, Hill’s Bookstore, the San Benito Office of Education, and the San Benito County Free Library, among others, a large poster of Parton and a small display of books, flyers and balloons were set out for Parton’s Imagination library. 

Hollister residents can scan the QR code on the posters and flyers, which will take them to unitedforsanbenito.org for more information on the Imagination Library. 

The library includes a book gifting program where children five and under, once enrolled, receive a free book a month. If requested, the books will be provided in a language other than English until the child turns six. 

Hicks and her team set up a link, @unitedforsanbenito, on both Instagram and Facebook, to receive donations. 

“We just wanted to keep it easy and simple for people to participate and it’s more in the spirit of honoring Dolly, honoring her legacy, and the good work that she’s done,” Hicks said. 

Each title in the Imagination Library was selected by Parton herself to make sure that her gift would be age-appropriate. 

The books are free to every child regardless of socioeconomic background. 

Fortino initiated the effort to bring the Imagination Library to San Benito County two years ago, partnering with the San Benito County Office Of Education. Her nonprofit is one of the first organizations to bring the Imagination Library to the Central Coast. 

According to Hicks, the program has enrolled about 1,200 preschoolers. The goal is to raise enrollment to 3,000 preschoolers over the next two years. 

“We’re championing Dolly Parton’s dream so that every child can learn how to read and go into their kindergarten knowing the love of books, feeling the books, physically having their own library,” Hicks said. 

Dolly Day is also part of an annual fundraiser gala hosted by United for San Benito on Oct. 24 at the Ridgemark Golf Club and Resort. It will launch the organization’s 12 Days of Giving program where gifts will benefit Dolly Day and United For San Benito, as well as the other nonprofits that Hicks and her team host. 

“Every dollar that we raise stays here locally,” Hicks said. “We’re very intentional about our fundraising and the impact we make here.” 

For more information on Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, visit imaginationlibrary.com.

The BenitoLink Internship Program is a paid, skill-building program that prepares local youth for a professional career. This program is supported by Monterey Peninsula Foundation AT&T Golf Tour and Taylor Farms.