The 2021 Power of the Purse fundraiser was the third-and-most-successful one yet.
As with most other events in 2020, COVID-19 cancelled the fundraiser, but more than 200 women were able to attend in-person this year, said Sabrina Cave, co-chair of Women United, which hosts the event. Cave is also a board member for United Way of Mon and Preston Counties.
The money raised from the silent auction of purses filled with items such as gift cards, getaways and other goodies goes to buying books for children through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, said Servando Arredondo, United Way engagement manager.
Arredondo said the money raised by the Power of the Purse was almost enough to fund the area’s Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program, which has about 2,300 children enrolled. It costs $25 per child per year to operate the program.
Each month, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails children ages birth to 5 who are enrolled in the program an age-appropriate book, Cave said. Studies have shown when parents read with their children they learn.
“This is so important because it promotes lifelong learning skills, Cave said. “Childhood readers become adult thinkers.”
The books are addressed to the children themselves so they get the excitement of receiving mail each month, Cave said.
“Parents have shared how excited their children get each month knowing a book is mailed to their house each month with their name on the envelope and that they get to open it and read it,” she said.
During the pandemic, the program continued to send books to children who aged out of the program by turning 6. Cave said the program recognized the kids needed books now more than ever and just kept sending age-appropriate books.
“So, to support a program that provides those educational tools for our children is just so important,” Cave said.
Both Cave and Arredondo said the successful Power of the Purse couldn’t have happened without the generous sponsorships and donations by local businesses.
There are no socioeconomic requirements to sign up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Children can be registered for the program at unitedwaympc.org/dpil.
If a household doesn’t have internet access or the person signing a child up isn’t comfortable using the internet, they can call United Way at 304-296-7525 and someone will take the information and fill out the form for them, Cave said.
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