United Way of Snohomish County Adds Children's Book and Mobile Dental Programs
The nonprofit says its partnerships with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and the Best Dental Help are bringing books and no-cost dental care to local children.
By Jennifer Paige ·
United Way of Snohomish County is expanding its support for local children through two partnerships: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, an international literacy program, and the Best Dental Help, a mobile dental clinic.
The Imagination Library launched in Snohomish County in June 2023 and has enrolled 9,000 children since then. The program is aimed at families who cannot afford books, so that young children are not left without the chance to read.
Book deliveries began in August. Since then, 45,000 books have been shipped to children in the community, according to the organization.
With that response from the community, United Way is now pursuing a new goal: reaching children who do not have permanent addresses. Brittany Williams, the organization's Director of Communications and Marketing, said children facing hardship often lack stable living situations.
"We're now looking at different ways we can get books into the hands of children who maybe don't have permanent addresses," Williams said. "We're working with several partners to see how we can expand this service to those children as well."
The literacy effort is funded through contributions from donors and carried out by United Way, which describes the program as an example of community support removing financial barriers to reading.
The second partnership is with the Best Dental Help, a clinic-on-wheels intended to close a gap in access to health care. The aim is to keep a family's financial circumstances from undermining a child's dental health.
The mobile clinic is equipped with modern facilities and staffed by professionals who also teach children about the importance of oral health. Services include screenings, cleanings, fluoride treatment and the placement of sealants. Care is provided at no cost to the families who choose it for their children.
United Way says the two partnerships reflect its commitment to community well-being, supporting children's learning through books and their health through dental care. Families can register for the Imagination Library or find out more about the Best Dental Help through United Way of Snohomish County.
Source: The Everett Herald
