Kiwanis clubs honor Parton

TIFFIN — Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a lasting legacy that was organized by the philanthropic generosity of the late Dolly Parton. This program has benefitted thousands of preschool children by having free books delivered to their homes with the potential of amassing a 60-book library. Kiwanis clubs in our area have sponsored this program for young children for many years with the idea that children can "learn more, care more and be more." Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. An outdoor picnic of area Kiwanis clubs was recently hosted a few days after the passing of Dolly Parton at the Hedges Boyer Park in Tiffin. The meeting consisted of Kiwanis clubs from Seneca, Sandusky, Huron, Erie and Ottawa counties, known as Division 12, which is a part of the Ohio Kiwanis District. To remember and celebrate Dolly Parton's legacy to encourage young children to read, a cut-out poster of Dolly was brought to the picnic, and a group photo was taken with Dolly's image in the center. This cut out image of Dolly was provided by the Sandusky Kiwanis Club, as it has supported Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for more than 14 years with more than 286,000 books being gifted to approximately 6,000 children. The Bellevue Kiwanis Club was also present at this event and posed with the Dolly Parton image, as the Bellevue Kiwanis Club has supported many of the Bellevue Library's programs that benefit young children. Delegates attend state convention Recently, Ron and Kathy Smith were delegates attending the Ohio Kiwanis District convention in Westerville, Ohio. The Kiwanis governor had a project to support young children who were receiving medical care away from home by funding needed items at Ronald McDonald Houses throughout Ohio. Bellevue Kiwanis helped fund the items at the Ronald McDonald House in Toledo.