(Ripley County, IN – July 25, 2025) The Ripley County Retired Teachers Association and Novel HeARTs are thrilled to invite children and their families to a special story time event aimed at fostering a love of reading and supporting early literacy in our community. Join us on Saturday, August 16, from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM, at Novel HeARTs, located at 133 Tyson Street, Versailles, IN.
Featuring Beloved Local Teachers
Beginning at 9:30 AM, and every hour thereafter until 12:30 PM, a beloved former teacher from Ripley County will share their favorite classic stories. This unique event offers a wonderful opportunity for children to connect with experienced educators and discover new literary adventures. Story times shall begin at 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 12:30 PM. To find the list of books that will be read and the name of the teacher who will read each hour, please visit https://novelhearts.com/.
“Every teacher knows the importance of reading aloud to youth – regardless of their age. Making stories and information come to life for the listener fosters a love for reading that leads to independent readers. Ripley County Retired Teachers welcome this opportunity to partner with the Ripley County Community Foundation and Novel HeARTs to raise funds for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which delivers books monthly to Ripley County children registered from birth to age five. Imagine every child in Ripley County with his/her own personal library of 60 books by the age of five. What a gift for developing the next generation of readers and thinkers!” stated Ellen Mulford, Ripley County Retired Teachers Association.
The Power of Literacy
Literacy plays a vital role in a child’s development, opening doors to endless possibilities for learning and growth. Encouraging children to become self-learners from a young age empowers them with the skills to explore, question, and discover throughout their lives. Events like this help lay the foundation for a lifelong love of reading and independent learning.
Supporting the Ripley County Imagination Library
The purpose of this special story time is to raise funds for the Ripley County Imagination Library program, proudly sponsored by the Ripley County Community Foundation. The Imagination Library provides free, high-quality books to children from birth until age five, helping to build home libraries and foster a love of reading from an early age.
You are Invited to Attend and Contribute
The public is encouraged to attend and make donations to support this invaluable program. We are also grateful to Novel HeARTs, which has graciously committed to donating 10% of its sales on August 16th directly to the Imagination Library program.
“The team at Novel HeARTs believes reading is a fundamental life skill that should be nurtured from the earliest years. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library, sponsored by the Ripley County Community Foundation, makes that possible by providing books monthly to Ripley County children from birth to age five. We’re proud to support the Ripley County Retired Teachers Association in their efforts to raise funds for this invaluable program,” stated Cheryll Obendorf, Proprietor, Novel HeARTs.
Come join us for a morning of captivating stories and help us champion literacy for all children in Ripley County!
The Ripley County Community Foundation is committed to Connecting People Who Care with Causes that Matter. Please visit www.rccfonline.org to contribute online or learn more about our initiatives. To explore how you can create opportunities in your community, contact us by phone at (812) 933-1098, via email at office@rccfonline.org, or stop by our office at 13 E. George Street, Suite B, Batesville, IN.
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About the Ripley County Retired Teachers Association
The Ripley County Retired Teachers Association is dedicated to promoting education and supporting the community through various initiatives.
About Novel HeARTs
Novel HeARTs is a community-driven book and local art store rooted in the heart of the people it serves. Its mission is to offer new books, good-quality used books, unique gifts and greeting cards, and art classes. It’s a place where artists, readers, and book lovers can gather to feed their passion and spark their imagination.
About Ripley County Community Foundation
The Ripley County Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that assists donors in building an enduring source of charitable funds to benefit the citizens and qualified organizations of Ripley County. The Foundation manages 260 funds and $20 million dollars in assets which are used to improve the community and serve Ripley County residents through various grants and scholarships. The Foundation is dedicated to partnering with and serving the local communities as a trusted source for charitable giving now and forever. Learn more about the Foundation and how to donate at www.rccfonline.org.
