By By MaryClaire Foster
Thanks to change donated while making purchases at area Dollar General stores, the company has given a $1,000 donation to the Atmore Public Library.
Library Director Cathy McKinley said she “couldn’t believe it” when Dollar General Store Manager Melissa Whatley walked in with the check.
McKinley said that libraries throughout the state communicate through a Listserv and she was made aware of Dollar General stores giving to other libraries, but had not heard anything about the Atmore area and was seeking a way to get money from them.
Whatley said the money comes from a literacy donation customers are asked to make when they are at the register. Atmore and 16 other libraries in the 44 region were awarded the money because they had the highest amount of donations received.
The library will use the money for new fiction and non-fiction books for children as well as some for teenagers.
McKinley added that the easy readers could be used in the adult literacy program as well.
The Dollar General Web site states it has been involved in a grass-roots literacy referral program since 1987 and also has four grants dealing with literacy available for non-profit organizations.
According to the Web site, “This program offers free referral information services to our customers and employees regarding local learn-to-read, GED and English as a Second Language programs.”
Customers can retrieve a reply card with pre-paid postage and send it in to receive information from ProLiteracy America about literacy programs or adult basic education centers nearby.
Since the program was begun, it has directed more than 50,000 people to literacy programs in areas where Dollar General stores are located.