Help Put Books Into the Hands of Refugee Children

Over the past year, Utah Refugee Connection has provided more than 800 new, age-appropriate books to refugee children across Utah. Our work goes beyond distributing books—we are helping children and their parents strengthen literacy skills, build family connections, and discover the joy of reading together.

We want refugee parents to understand the powerful role they can play as their child’s first and most important teacher. When families have books in their homes, parents and children can learn together and develop habits that support a lifetime of learning.

We are also joining forces with community partners to expand Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Utah and make this remarkable program accessible to refugee families.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a global book-gifting program that mails one free, high-quality, age-appropriate book each month to enrolled children from birth until their fifth birthday.

Purpose and Mission

Inspire a Love of Reading: The program fosters an early interest in books and reading among young children.
Support Early Education: It helps give every child a strong start in school and life by building home libraries.
Remove Financial Barriers: Books are mailed at absolutely no cost to families, regardless of household income.
Honor Family Roots: Dolly Parton founded the program in 1995, inspired by her father’s inability to read and write.

Program Overview and How It Works

Eligibility: Any child from birth until their fifth birthday who lives in a participating community can enroll.
Book Delivery: Enrolled children receive one new, personalized book in the mail each month—up to 60 books for a child enrolled at birth.
Expert Selection: A panel of early-literacy experts carefully selects the books. Specialized options, including bilingual and braille editions, are also available.
Funding Model: The program relies on a unique partnership. The Dollywood Foundation manages the infrastructure and administrative support, while local community partners—including nonprofits, businesses, and government organizations—raise funds to cover the wholesale cost of books and mailing expenses in their communities.
Global Reach: What began in Sevier County, Tennessee, has expanded throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland, delivering millions of books each month.

You Can Help Build a Child’s Library

Your donation will help place books directly into the hands and homes of refugee children in Utah. Together, we can inspire a love of reading, empower parents to become active partners in their children’s education, and give families valuable tools to learn and thrive.

Give today and help a refugee child build a personal library—and a brighter future—one book at a time.

Imagination Library & Early Literacy Support for Refugee Children in Utah