Riedel Foundation grant supplies free books to Hannibal children

HANNIBAL, Mo. — All Hannibal children up to age 5 are eligible to receive free books with the help of the Riedel Foundation, working in connection with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program.

The Riedel Trustees awarded $8,100 in grant money to fund the initiative, administered locally by the United Way of the Mark Twain Area. Children enrolled in the program receive one free book a month mailed directly to them from the time they are born until they turn 5.

Access to books is the largest predictor of childhood literacy. Riedel trustee Michael Bukstein said in a press release.

“Funding this program is one small way that the Riedel Foundation provides families and children with the tools to start building the literacy skills they need to help them throughout their lives,” he said.

The Riedel Foundation has supplied nearly 8,000 free books to Hannibal children since the Dolly Parton Imagination Library started in Hannibal in 2019.

“Reading is the foundational skill that gives individuals access to learning about any topic,” United Way executivedirector Denise Damron said. “With the ability to read comes the ability to learn. We want to enhance that opportunity for young people in our community.”

Hannibal children can sign up for the program at imaginationlibrary.com. For children outside of Hannibal, visit the site to see if your community is eligible.