Goodie Shop bakes Dolly cookies for literacy cause

The Original Goodie Shop sold Dolly Parton-themed sugar cookies Sept. 25-26, donating $1 per cookie to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

The Tremont Center bakery joined businesses across central Ohio marking the state's first Dolly Parton Day, as first reported by 10TV. Gov. Mike DeWine proclaimed Sept. 25 as Dolly Parton Day in Ohio. The date was a nod to Parton's signature song and film, "9 to 5." Parton died in late August at age 80.

Christy Monson stopped by the shop with her daughter, Lily, to grab some of the iced cookies on Sept. 25.

"She did a whole lot of good when she was here, and the Imagination Library has reached probably millions of children," Monson told 10TV. "We want to continue that legacy."

Lily summed up the occasion her own way, exclaiming, "It's 9-2-5!"

The Goodie Shop, founded in 1967, has a track record of baking for a cause. The bakery sets aside a monthly budget for donations to nonprofits, schools and churches, according to a 2023 Tri-Village Chamber profile. In August, the shop went viral for selling cookies supporting a Beavercreek business in a trademark dispute with Buc-ee's, 614Now reported.

The cookie sale fed into a larger statewide effort. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library sends enrolled children one free book each month until their fifth birthday, regardless of family income. Parton founded the program in 1995 in East Tennessee to honor her father, who could not read.

Ohio launched its chapter in August 2019 and reached all 88 counties by November 2020. First Lady Fran DeWine has championed the expansion. More than 1 million Ohio children have participated, and the program has delivered more than 28 million books statewide over nearly eight years, according to ABC 6.

About 432,000 children receive a free book each month, reaching more than 65% of the state's eligible population. Gov. DeWine said Ohio leads the nation, with two-thirds of children under 5 getting books every month, according to 10TV.

The DeWines marked the day at a Kroger in Dublin, where a statewide fundraiser invited customers to round up purchases at checkout to benefit local food banks. Kroger matched the funds raised and made a separate donation to the Imagination Library.

Ohio families with children under 5 can enroll in the free program at ohioimaginationlibrary.org.

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