Dolly Parton Donating Books, Bucks To Hurricane-Ravaged Areas

PIGEON FORGE, TN — Overwhelmed with gratitude from the support her home received from people around the world after devastating wildfires, Dolly Parton is, as she does so often, giving to others ravaged by nature.

The iconic country music singer-songwriter, actress, entrepreneur and universally beloved human announced Wednesday she is giving not just money to hurricane-stricken areas, but books. Hundreds of thousands of books.

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For starters, Parton will donate to the One America Appeal, the joint appeal spearheaded by the five living former presidents to aid recovery efforts from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

“After the tremendous outpouring of support my hometown received last winter after the wildfires raged through the area, I want to do my part to help other areas affected by natural disasters. I admire and respect this effort led by our Presidents so it is an honor for me to contribute to their work," she said in a statement.

Parton started the My People Fund, which provided $10,000 to residents of her native Sevier County, Tenn. after a wind-whipped wildfire swept through the quaint resort town of Gatlinburg and surrounding areas last winter.

The second prong of Parton's donation to the hurricane recovery efforts is an echo of what has been a long-running passion for her: children's literacy. Her Imagination Library — which provides one book per month for children from birth to age 5 — is partnering with non-profit First Book and Penguin Publishing to provide 500,000 books to storm-affected areas. Parton jump-started the campaign by donating 165,000 books and more than $90,000 in shipping costs to send them to educators in those areas.

“I know in the immediate aftermath of a disaster books are not the first thing people need or miss. But I also know from our past experience that after some time has passed, families, schools and libraries are eager to replenish their shelves, and their hearts, with books. First Book asked us to join with them to get the right books in the right hands at the right time and we were pleased to do so,” she said.

To learn more, visit First Book's web site. Schools, libraries and other programs affected by the storms can sign up for free with First Book and will then receive information about how to request books.

Recording artist Dolly Parton speaks live on air in Seacrest Studio at Monroe Carell Jr. Vanderbilt Children's Hospital to share music & her own family's story of hope with kids and their parents on October 13, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for Pandora)