A local non-profit dedicated to promoting literacy in local youth, and a local festival were recipients of the City of Soldotna’s quarterly Mini-Grant. The Greater Kenai/Soldotna Imagination Library, and the Harvest Moon Local Food Festival each received a $1,000 grant during a special meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday.
The Greater Kenai/Soldotna Imagination Library is an affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and their goal is to improve literacy in the community by distributing free books each month to children from birth to age 5. A child enrolled in their program will receive a total of 60 books by the time they enter kindergarten.
“You’re sitting there with that child, they’re warm and cozy and comfy and they like that opportunity to interact with that grown up, and that is what brings that love of reading.” said Imagination Library Chairperson, Margaret Gilman, who presented at the special meeting. “Greater Kenai/Soldotna Imagination Library wants to do everything we can to get books in the hands of children in our area.”
Also receiving the grant, the Harvest Moon Local Festival seeks to aid local farmers in getting their produce out to the community. Originating in 2018, Harvest Moon is the largest one-day farmers market on the Kenai Peninsula. It provides an end of season venue for farmers to offer their locally grown produce to the residents and guests of the Kenai, and also offers Live music provided by local musicians.
Grant funds awarded to the Harvest Moon Festival will be used for advertising, musician stipends, and materials for their “Kid’s Tent” activities.
The Mini Grant Program was established to provide funding to a wide range of civic programs, services, and events that contribute to the cultural and economic environment, and/or health, welfare, and overall quality of life for the community and residents of Soldotna.
9 applications in total were submitted this quarter.
For more information on the Mini-Grant program, please visit the City of Soldotna’s website: https://www.soldotna.org/government/mini-grant-program
