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United Way needs other option for funding books
Published Tuesday, March 25, 2008
In response to Joel Myhre's commentary on Saturday, March 22, concerning the suggestion of funding of the Imagination Library program with significant money from the United Way donations, my opinion is definitely against such a drastic departure from what I and others perceive as the mission of our United Way.
It is my understanding, which is the basis of my support for the United Way campaign, that the money will be used locally to allow local programs to continue to give help where needed in our communities.
These programs are often targeting youth and adults who need to learn healthy options in their lives. Many of the programs have been providing these options and educational opportunities for more years than even I have been around.
Their quality and benefit should not be questioned and certainly should not be subject to cutbacks (boy, do I hate that word) that will diminish their valuable contributions to the healthy environment of our communities.
Children of all economic and social levels are offered countless opportunities to develop a love of reading through school, daycare, our fabulous libraries, retail stores, rummage sales, and gifts from friends and relatives. We don't need to mail books to children using donated money at the expense of other programs which are not duplicated in this obvious manner.
It is a nice, warm, fuzzy thought to mail a book to a child in hopes that it will encourage him or her to become a life-long reader, but $48,000 is an awful lot of money for just one program and I can think of several other United Way-funded programs that could put this money to much better use.
Find another way to fund this program if you insist on continuing it — use your imagination — and let the United Way money continue to benefit other programs that need its support more.
Here's a novel thought — give a book club subscription to a child as a gift instead of a video game or foreign-made toy. Or give a child a library card — they are free.
Lynn Bran - Fergus Falls
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by worthy01 (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am sorry you feel that way about the Imagination Library. As a mother of young boy who used to receive books from it till funding was cut, it was a great way to get his library started being as it is often hard to gage which books he would like. From all of the books that he received we try to look at each of them at least once a week or more often if he wants to actually sit (he is 14months) and go thru them.
Posted by motherof2 (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just want to thank the United Way for sending books to my two children. I think that the program has been wonderful and like worthy01 said a great way to get a library collection started. My three year old was thrilled to pieces when we used to check our mail and see that there was a book there. She likes to look at those books over and over. We still do go to the library once a week for story hour and then check out books afterwards, but it's not the same. We don't get to keep those books. It's disappointing because in other communities they still have The Imagination Library Program. It would be nice if we could also have that opportunity. I know that the money could probably be used somewhere else, but it would still be nice if we could have this program, because it's makes a child's day when they get a book in the mail.
Posted by REM (anonymous) on March 27, 2008 at 12:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
United Way funds are best used to satisfy physiological and safety needs. Self actualization rarely occurs if the more basic needs are not met first.
Books can be provided by parents, grandparents, neighbors, church, friends, etc. And are readily available at thrift stores, garage sales, etc. In fact some of the kids that got books previous years from the Imagination Library, now could share them with others.
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