For decades, stations like PBS brought stories right into the living room of children all over the nation with LeVar Burton and Reading Rainbow. Most can still sing in full harmony the theme song that encouraged kids to “take a look, it’s in a book.”
According to the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, North Carolina ranks 35th in the country for Literacy, and 21.3% of adults in North Carolina have low literacy (https://map.barbarabush.org/assets/cards/BBFFL-Literacy-Card-NC.pdf). Low adult literacy is directly connected with the accessibility of books and literacy tools for children. Literacy among children has always been a top priority for the United Way of Cumberland County, as facilitators for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This program is completely free for residents, and children aged 0-5 are eligible. Once children are signed up for the program, they receive a free book in the mail every month until they turn five. The program helps families start a library and encourages parents to read to their children, a habit that is said to establish a good relationship between children and reading. For more information about the Imagination Library, visit the website at https://www.unitedway-cc.org/what-we-do/initiatives/dolly-parton-imagination-library/dolly-partons-imagination-library.html.
To increase literacy in Cumberland County, United Way has launched the Cumberland County Literacy Council, “a collaborative effort uniting public and private partners to address one of the community’s most critical challenges: literacy.”
The mission of the Cumberland County Literacy Council is to foster literacy and learning across generations by meeting families where they are and embracing their diverse needs. Through meaningful partnerships, the Council is committed to creating opportunities that transform lives and strengthen our community.
Who is on the Cumberland County Literacy Council?
• United Way of Cumberland County
• City of Fayetteville
• Cumberland County
• Cumberland County Public Library
• Cumberland County Schools
• Partnership for Children of Cumberland County
• Fayetteville State University
• FTCC
• Methodist University
• The Town of Spring Lake
• The Town of Hope Mills
What is the first initiative of the Cumberland County Literacy Council?
In March 2025, in partnership with the Cumberland County Public Library, Fort Bragg Library, and Partnership for Children of Cumberland County, the council launched Imagination Library Storytime. Storytimes are open to children 0-5 and offer an interactive session that encourages the love of reading and books.
“Our goal is to foster a lifelong passion for reading that empowers children to dream big and reach their full potential,” said Scott Embry, executive director of United Way of Cumberland County. “Strong readers become strong students. By investing in literacy today, we’re building a stronger future for our community.”
“The Literacy Council is currently seeking a core group of volunteers with experience in education, including educators, retired educators, librarians, and retired librarians, and education students. This founding group will play a vital role in shaping the Council’s future by helping to establish best practices and onboarding processes for future volunteers.
"If you're passionate about early literacy and want to help lay the foundation for long-term community impact, we invite you to join us. Additionally, if your organization is hosting a literacy-related event, we’d love to help promote it. Community partners can submit events for inclusion on our Literacy Council Events Calendar. We are also welcoming new donor partners to support and grow this vital work.”
For more information on how to get involved with the council, visit the website at https://www.unitedway-cc.org/cumberland-county-literacy-council/.