Mecklenburg County commissioners have named Friday, Sept. 25, Dolly Parton Day, three weeks after the singer's death. Smart Start of Mecklenburg County, the nonprofit that mails free books from her Imagination Library to children across the county, is marking it with a party at NoDa Brewing, a book drive and a day of local businesses giving back.
The date comes from her song and film "9 to 5": Sept. 25, written as 9/25. Commissioner Laura Meier, who represents District 5, read the proclamation at Tuesday night's meeting. It challenges everyone in the county to do "at least one Dolly good deed" and to donate a book to a child through Smart Start.
When it came to a vote, commissioners in favor were asked to say "nine to five." They did, and it passed unanimously.
"She just did what was right and did what was in her heart," Meier said before reading it.
Parton died Aug. 25 in Nashville. She was 80.
A book a month, from birth to 5
Parton started the Imagination Library in 1995 because her father never learned to read. It mails a free book every month to children from birth until their fifth birthday.
Mike Blackwelder, Smart Start's chief executive, told commissioners the program came to Charlotte in 2014, when a group of funders brought it to a single ZIP code, 28205. NoDa Brewing, he said, helped bring it here. In 2017, he said, the state took over and funded the program statewide, which brought it to every ZIP code in the county. Smart Start says 5.3 million books have gone to Mecklenburg children since 2014.
More than 30,000 children are enrolled at any given time, according to Smart Start, and Blackwelder said the program delivered more than 370,000 books last year. Bilingual books are available.
"Dolly used to say, if you see somebody without a smile, give them yours," said Blackwelder, who called himself a lifelong Dolly fan.
Where to celebrate on Sept. 25
The main event is at NoDa Brewing, 150 W. 32nd St., from 3 to 9 p.m.
- 3 to 6 p.m.: family activities, games and Dolly-themed fun
- 6 to 9 p.m.: a Dolly dance party
- All evening: a book drive for new and gently used children's books, and $1 to the Imagination Library for every Dolly-inspired drink
At these businesses, Smart Start says, a piece of your check that day goes to the Imagination Library:
- Gilde Brewery, 3530 Dewitt Lane, 5 p.m. to midnight
- Divine Barrel Brewing, 3701 N. Davidson St. (hours not listed)
- Park Road Books, 4139 Park Road, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- The Book Rack, 10110 Johnston Road, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Trope Bookshop, 1516 Lyon Court, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- That's Novel Books, 330 Camp Road, noon to 8 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of Smart Start of Mecklenburg County
How to give, or sign up a child
Smart Start says $30 covers a year of books for one child, and $450 covers about 15 children, the size of a preschool class. It is also asking for $9.25 on 9/25. Donations are tax-deductible, and details are at smartstartofmeck.org/dollyday.
Any child under 5 who lives in Mecklenburg County can be enrolled for free, on the same page. The books arrive every month with the child's name on them, and the first one is always "The Little Engine That Could," which Smart Start says Parton picked herself.