For the first time, Haleyville City and Winston County Schools will participate in the United Way’s annual Day of Caring to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Winston County. The United Way’s Day of Caring is an annual event that brings together volunteers, businesses, and organizations to make an impact on the community.
Students across Winston County will participate in Hat Day. For just $1.00, students may wear a hat to school on the school’s selected day during the second week of September.
Taylor Johnson, Resource Development and Outreach Manager with the United Way, expressed her excitement over Winston County’s participation. “This will be the first year Haleyville City and Winston County Schools are joining us for Hat Day, and we’re thrilled to make it extra special: all proceeds will go directly to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Winston County, helping provide free books every month to children from birth to age five,” Johnson said.
Stephanie Childers, Executive Director of the United Way of Cullman and Winston Counties, expressed her desire to expand the resources available to Winston County residents through the United Way, specifically through their 211 program. The ARC, Community Action Partners, Winston County DHR, and Main Street Ministries are the only resources specific to Winston County currently listed on the United Way’s website. Churches, senior centers, and other non-profits that provide food banks, clothes closets, and similar services can call (256) 739-2948 to be added to the list.
“We need to get the word out there to non-profits to contact us and let us know they are available,” Childers added. “We want the most up-to-date and accurate information for individuals who need it.”
A total of 738 children in Winston County have been enrolled in the DPIL since the program’s inception in January 2025, with 5,143 books mailed. The cost to sponsor a child for a year is $35.
Childers emphasized the level of dedication she has witnessed from Winston County residents. “Seeing how committed the community is to their children has been really impactful,” she said. 67
