Lindsay McRae (left) and Jessica Petruk (right) receive a grant for the Imagination Library of Kamloops from Rotarian Lisa Lake (centre) on Friday, June 5, during a meeting of the Rotary Club of Kamloops Daybreak. (Image Credit: The Imagination Library of Kamloops)

By Elora McCormack

Imagination Library of Kamloops

Kamloops charity raising money to give books to children

Jun 8, 2026 | 11:38 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Imagination Library of Kamloops will be giving out books to 160 local children this year, thanks to a $2,500 donation from the Rotary Club of Kamloops Daybreak.

The program is in its third year as a local partner of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which aims to promote early literacy in children.

“Without this support from Rotary Daybreak we were looking at having to pause our program so we are incredibly grateful to Daybreak for this grant,” said Lindsay McRae, a small business owner who started the local chapter in 2023 while on maternity leave with her first child.

“My hope would be to accept every registration we receive but we are maxed out. We are considering how to sustain the program long term.”

The national non-profit organization’s program sends one book per month in the mail to registered children under five years old.

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“Getting that book in the mail is like Christmas morning at our house,” said volunteer Jessica Petruk, whose four-year-old daughter has been on the Imagination Library’s mailing list since 2024.

“As a parent, I’ve been really impressed with the number of books by Canadian authors and Indigenous authors. It really fueled my daughter’s love for reading. I wanted to get involved because I was so blown away by the quality of the books and the generosity of the program.”

The charity said it relies on local affiliates to sponsor the program, with Kamloops parents volunteering to manage registration and apply for grants and local businesses offering sponsorships.

This is the second year in a row the Rotary Club of Kamloops Daybreak is supporting the Imagination Library.

The library said it is continuing to look for opportunities for support and growth.

“Volunteers are looking for other organizations and businesses that are interested in funding, sponsoring and growing the initiative. They can contact Lindsay via email at lkamloops@gmail.com,” said the Imagination Library of Kamloops.

by Elora McCormack

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Kamloops charity raising money to give books to children

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