This week, country music legend Dolly Parton celebrated a big milestone: 100 million books. That’s right, books. Parton’s nonprofit, Imagination Library, mails free books to children from birth to age 5 across the country, and this week, she celebrated the program’s remarkable growth in a special ceremony at the Library of Congress.

Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden and Dolly Parton

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of the Texas Gulf coast whose lives are being upended by the effects of his storm. Hurricane Harvey’s effects on the Texas coast are likely to be long-lasting.

Those of us watching from afar may feel helpless, but there are ways to help the victims of this massive storm.

Donate money

The best way to help Texans affected by disasters is to donate money to charitable agencies that are experienced in disaster relief, officials say.

Organizations such as the American Red Cross and Salvation Army are trained to respond to disasters such as Harvey, which is pounding the Texas Gulf Coast.

“Right now the best thing people can do is donate money,” said Katrina Farmer, director of American Red Cross offices in San Angelo, Abilene and Wichita Falls, Texas cities far from the coastline. “This is going to be an expensive disaster.”

• American Red Cross. To donate visit redcross.org, call 1- 800-RED CROSS or text the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
• The Salvation Army: To donate visit givesalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-725-2769.

Donate blood

Blood centers anticipate a shortage and are putting out urgent pleas for donations. The closure of blood banks and collection centers along the coast paired with likely injuries from the storm will stress existing supplies.

People wishing to donate blood should contact their local community’s Red Cross or check for blood banks in their area.

April 9-15 is National Library Week, a time to highlight the changing role of libraries, librarians and library workers.

Libraries are more about doing than borrowing – more about connecting than simply plugging in – and your local librarian is your expert guide.

Whether you want to get involved in your community, find a job, start a business, or build your digital literacy skills, your library is the key to your transformation.

Visit your nearest library during National Library Week, or visit ILoveLibraries.org.

Continue Reading →

Because the goodwill of those we serve is the foundation of our success,
there is no time more fitting than now to say Thank You!

We wish you a happy holiday season, a merry Christmas, and a new year full of health, happiness and prosperity.

May God bless and protect you!

We are truly blessed with wonderful friends, community, colleagues and family.  All of us are united in a war we must wage every day, one we must not surrender to: the fight against cancer. How amazing is it to see how dramatically our lives can change in a day, an hour, a minute.  No one ever forgets the moment they hear the words, “You have cancer.”  We believe it renews our resolve to make the most of each moment and remember kindness to our fellow human beings.

We applaud and celebrate the survivors who give us constant hope.  We pray for those fighting for their lives and their strength.  We remember those we have lost.  We must continue to raise funds until we find a cure for this dreaded disease–we will win this battle–treatment and results improve every day!  We must never give up, no matter how hard the battle is that we must fight, sometimes just one hour at a time.

With your help, the ‘From the Hearts of the Hanney’s Campaign’ was able to present The American Cancer Society Relay for life with $20,386.00, totaling some $250,000 in funds raised to fight this disease over the course of the fifteen years we have been devoted to honoring Sam Rugoff and Gerry & Elizabeth Hanney, and so many others.

We are proud to live in a country where this type of fundraiser is possible.  We are proud of our friends, our family, our colleagues, our community, our pets–all who have helped make this possible, even if it meant a financial sacrifice for the greater good–regardless of the economy.  Strive for the words, “You are cured!” Thank you so much for doing the right thing and continuing to – save a life today!

Our love,

John & Iris & the Four P’s!