Published on May 5, 2025 11:53 am
Last Updated on May 5, 2025 11:55 am
Wright’s Furniture & Flooring is taking part in a community-wide effort to secure funding for a national program that helps provide monthly, free books to kids in Dieterich and Montrose. Dolly
Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age 5, providing families with valuable resources to foster early literacy skills and build lifelong readers. The program, which first began in Dolly Parton’s home state of Tennessee in 1995, is now in cities across the nation and has distributed 270 million books worldwide.
Kelly Frohning is a Dieterich resident who is on a committee to bring the Imagination Library to Dieterich and Montrose. In order for the program to come to a new area, community partners are needed to help enroll children in the program and pay the costs for shipping and wholesale books. The Imagination Library team coordinates book selections, wholesale purchasing and shipping. She said the committee has successfully raised about 60% of its $3,000 goal thanks to local supporters like Wright’s Furniture & Flooring, who helped cover the initial start-up costs.
“We’re so grateful that Wright’s Furniture is joining us in expanding the Imagination Library to the children of Dieterich and Montrose,” Frohning said. “Their continuous support for community initiatives and dedication to see that Dieterich succeeds is inspiring.”
John Wright, President of Wright’s Furniture & Flooring, said he’s seen lots of generosity in the Montrose and Dieterich communities, and he’s very excited for Wright’s Furniture to be involved with such an important service for children in the area.
“My wife is from Montrose, and she and I along with our three children all attended school in Dieterich,” John Wright said. “This cause is very important to us, and we are extremely happy to get a book in every child’s hand.”
Wright’s Furniture & Flooring has been part of the Dieterich community for more than 136 years. Vice President Alex Wright said when Frohning approached Wright’s Furniture about the effort, it was an easy decision to get involved.
“As a father of two kids under 2 years old, reading is a daily activity my wife and I enjoy with our kids,” AlexWright said. “We are thrilled the Imagination Library program is now within reach.”
Frohning said the committee hopes to raise the $3,000 by July 4 so children can start enrolling. Any individuals or businesses who are interested in learning more or donating can contact 217-259-8410 or effingham.imaginationlibrary@gmail.com.
Wright’s Furniture & Flooring is a fifth-generation family-owned business that is celebrating its 136th anniversary this year. Wright’s Furniture & Flooring features a large selection of quality living room, bedroom, dining room, home office, home accents, entertainment, commercial and custom furniture as well as a wide selection of flooring. The business also offers interior design services in its Dieterich, Robinson and Taylorville locations and window treatments through its Wright at Home store in Effingham.
