By Alba Muñoz Saiz
The team behind The Read Seed is changing young lives through the power of books and early literacy.
When 3-year-old Emma received her free Imagination Library book in the mail she had no idea how much it would mean to her. The book, “The Big Slide” by Daniel Kirk, tells the story of a timid puppy who hesitates at the top of a tall slide but eventually finds the courage to take the plunge. For Emma, that story mirrored her own fear of slides — especially the big yellow tunnel slide at the Austin Community Recreation Center. Inspired by the puppy’s bravery, she decided to give it a try. Her mom recalled the transformation: “After she read the book she told me, ‘I’m going to be brave like the little pup,’ and down she went.” Now, with a beaming smile and a new sense of confidence, Emma can’t get enough of slides.
Literacy is a basic need. Books spark curiosity, build confidence, and open doors to new opportunities. Watching children connect with a story in a way that impacts their lives — that’s what this work is about.
Day’s childhood inspired her passion for The Read Seed’s mission. She recalls her early years being filled with books, with her parents fostering a deep love for stories and learning. “Some of my earliest memories are of my dad reading chapter books to me and my sisters before bed,” she says. “Books were always a priority in our home, and those moments taught me how transformative stories and reading can be.”
Building a Culture of Literacy
The Read Seed is a local nonprofit that provides age-appropriate books, for free, to local families, supporting kindergarten and early elementary readiness. Day is a mother of three, who has dedicated her career to early childhood education, with a master’s degree in K-12 reading intervention and an executive certificate in nonprofit management. She founded the organization in early 2023, with support from an experienced board of directors — including local school professionals, entrepreneurs and executives — Day has built a team committed to advancing childhood literacy across the community.
Among its signature programs is enabling Mower County families’ access to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which delivers free books monthly to children from birth to age five. Each package includes not only a book but also reading tips and activities designed to help parents and caregivers support early learning skills. Since its launch, The Read Seed has enrolled over 1,200 children, with close to 12,000 books delivered to local homes. Close to 35% of eligible children in Mower County are enrolled, and the number keeps climbing.
Closing the literacy gap is a core mission for The Read Seed team. “The US Department of Education estimates that 61% of kids in low-income households have no books at home. That’s a staggering number. Through programs like the Imagination Library, we can help close that gap,” Day explains.
Allie Long, the organization’s secretary and a reading intervention specialist for Austin Public Schools, sees these challenges daily. Long and her colleagues assess students three times a year to identify those needing extra support. She works with 10 small groups a day, pulling students for focused reading intervention. The latest data highlights the extent of the issue. According to the Minnesota Report Card from the Minnesota Department of Education, 66% of students in the Austin Public School District did not meet reading standards in 2024. “Many kids start kindergarten without foundational literacy skills,” she explains. “Some don’t know letter sounds, and others have never held a book. That has a big impact on their ability to progress.” Yet progress, while gradual, proves transformative. “When children see their own improvement — going from reading two words to 50 — it builds confidence. They start asking to do their reading check-ins because they want to beat their score.”
Bridging Gaps in Literacy
One of the biggest challenges in literacy education is ensuring that books reflect the diverse languages and cultures of the community. Mower County is home to families who speak more than 30 different languages, including Spanish, Burmese, French and Somali. The Read Seed is actively expanding access to multilingual books, ensuring that all children can see themselves reflected in the stories they read.
Day recalls a moment when a mother visited their table during a summer event and noticed books in Spanish. She was deeply moved. “She looked at her son and said, ‘I can read this to you in Spanish,’” Day said. “That meant everything to her.”
But literacy doesn’t develop in isolation. It thrives when families, schools and community partners work together. The Read Seed is part of a broader ecosystem of efforts in Mower County tackling this issue from different angles. In schools, trained interventionists provide critical reading support, while home-visit programs help families build strong literacy habits from an early age. Long and Day recognize that when families have stable resources, children are better able to focus on learning.
It takes a village. When a child struggles with reading, it’s rarely just about books. It’s about their home environment, their access to resources, and the support they receive both in and out of school. The more we work together, the better chance we have at making a real impact.”
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The organization’s success is largely due to the support and engagement of local organizations and volunteers. Hormel Foods has been a steadfast partner from the beginning. Through financial contributions from the Hormel Charitable Trust, book drives like the Inspired Giving Community collection, and opportunities to connect directly with families at the Austin facility, the company continues to help lay a strong foundation for the nonprofit’s growth. In 2024 alone, Hormel Foods employees collected nearly 1,000 books, enabling The Read Seed to further its mission.
A Vision for the Future
As The Read Seed looks ahead, the mission remains clear: to break down barriers to literacy and enrich lives through the power of books. Plans are underway to expand the program, including solutions to provide books to children without a stable home address and sourcing books in more languages. The Read Seed will continue to build ties with local schools, community agencies and initiatives like the Hometown Food Security Project. From mobile food pantries to block parties, the plan is to meet families where they are. Because food security and literacy are deeply connected — when families have both, communities grow stronger.
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All children from birth to age 5 living in Mower County qualify. Don’t miss out—register now to start receiving free books!
Hometown Food Security Project
318 Main St N.
Austin, MN 55912
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