Two and a half years ago, just two children in Lake County were enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library through Triangle Community Alliance. Today, 1,443 children receive a free, age-appropriate and imagination-stimulating book in their mailbox every month — with 1,000 of those enrollments happening in 2025 alone.

Behind this rapid growth is Debi Weinert, the founder and driving force of Triangle Community Alliance, Inc., a 501(c)(3) Florida nonprofit and the official Community Partner for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Lake County. While families receive a monthly gift of a free book, the program relies on community support to fund it. Every $36 donated sponsors one child for an entire year — delivering 12 books directly to their home.

Debi began her community work long before launching the program locally. With years of involvement in literacy efforts and local libraries, she saw a clear unmet need: many families who could benefit most from early reading support were not being reached through traditional channels.

“The libraries in Lake County offer many great programs, yet we’re still missing a significant part of the population,” Debi says. “If people don’t read, their go-to isn’t the library — it’s the mall, the movies, or somewhere else. There are families who would never think to visit a library, and barriers like working multiple jobs and lack of transportation make it even harder. With the Imagination Library, enrolled children accumulate a personal library of up to 60 books they never have to return — building confidence, joy, and a foundation for lifelong reading and learning.”

Each child enrolled in the program receives a high-quality book mailed directly to their home every month from birth until age five — at no cost to families. The simple act of receiving a book addressed to them is designed to spark curiosity, strengthen family bonds, and reinforce early literacy habits. When children begin to recognize their name, they start looking through the mail for their next book.

Enrollment initially opened in Mount Dora, Leesburg, Tavares, and Deer Island. In 2025, Triangle Community Alliance expanded the program to families with eligible children in Altoona, Astor, Howey-in-the-Hills, Okahumpka, and Paisley — extending access to more families across Lake County.

The program’s growth is powered by community support. In 2025, many individual volunteers helped parents enroll their children. Volunteers from Waterman Village contributed more than 500 hours in 2025 alone, and Debi personally donated more than 3,500 hours supporting outreach, enrollment, fundraising, partnerships, and family engagement.

Triangle Community Alliance is also a proud member of the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce.

“We are incredibly proud to see this level of growth happening right here in our region,” says Rachel O’Ryan, President of the Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce. “Programs like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library strengthen families, support early childhood development, and reflect what’s possible when passionate leadership and community care come together. Triangle Community Alliance’s impact across Lake County is something worth celebrating.”

“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library’s outstanding mission superbly supplements Mount Dora Library’s efforts to make reading and learning opportunities available to all residents by providing access to books,” says James Homich, Mayor of the City of Mount Dora.

Nationally, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is celebrating 30 years of inspiring young readers, having delivered more than 307 million books worldwide since its inception. Through Triangle Community Alliance’s work, Lake County families are part of that legacy — ensuring more children enter kindergarten with a foundation of literacy, imagination, and confidence.

Families interested in enrolling a child can check eligibility at www.ImaginationLibrary.com