By Tyler Waugh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A reading program that sees books mailed to children on the Southern Shore has proven so successful it is seeking financial help to sustain the service and accommodate increased demand.
The Southern Shore branch of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library has seen 57 children from Bay Bulls to Bauline East register since its inception. Volunteers say the area is seeing continued growth and would love to expand as far as Trepassey, anticipating a demand in the neighbourhood of 175 eligible children.
Melissa Backway, coordinator of the program, said marketing and fundraising to this point has mostly been through word of mouth and some direct contact. She said new support is needed from community organizations and small businesses to grow and sustain the program beyond November 2026.
“We've just been reaching out to businesses and people on the Southern Shore looking for help. I've got a few anonymous donations, a few organizations that kind of help us here and there,” Backway said.
Backway is a trained early childhood educator who has worked with children for 15 years. She was born and raised on the Southern Shore and believes in the importance of early child development. She said the program has many benefits, including helping families build memories reading together.
“Every child deserves the chance to grow up with books in their home and a love of reading. Families receiving these books aren't just getting stories — they're creating meaningful moments together that support learning, connection, and confidence,” Backway said.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is run through The Dollywood Foundation of Canada as a book-gifting program that sends free, high-quality books every month to children from birth to age five.
The foundation delivers around three million books every month and has mailed more than 200 million books to participants in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland and Australia since 1995.
The foundation selects and pays for the books and local organizers partner to pay for the postage to get the books delivered to registered families.
“A high-quality, age-appropriate book comes in the mail and it's free of charge for the families that are registered,” Backway said.
The program was introduced in Newfoundland in 2021 and kicked off on the Southern Shore last fall. Backway is joined by fellow volunteers Kendra Harrigan, Melanie Janes, Jessica Lundrigan and Jane Hutchings in supporting the program on the Southern Shore.
Backwell said they are looking to raise around $46 per person.
Donations can be made online or mailed to the Dollywood Foundation of Canada. Backway can be reached at melissa_shannahan@hotmail.com.
