Lewiston Elks have donated dictionaries to local schools. In front from left are students from Park Avenue School, Cody Frees, Ella Henry and Piper Norcross; back, Exalted Ruler Larry Campbell, teacher Karla Downs and Lewiston Elks Youth Activities Chairman Douglas Stone.

Lewiston Elks donate dictionaries to schools

LEWISTON – The Lewiston Elks Lodge 371 recently delivered 720 dictionaries to third-graders in 11 schools throughout the area.

Schools that received dictionaries included Fairview, Park Avenue, Walton, Washburn and Sherwood Heights schools in Auburn and McMahon, Montello, Longley, Pettingill and Farwell schools in Lewiston.

In addition, the lodge donated the books to the Lisbon Falls Community School and the Lisbon Falls Christian Academy.

The dictionaries were donated to assist third-grade students so that they have a better understanding of how to look up words and their definitions and to improve their vocabulary.

The goal of the program is to assist those students to become better writers, active readers and creative thinkers by providing them with their own personal dictionary.

Exalted Ruler Larry Campbell, Youth Activities Chairman Doug Stone and Public Relations Chairman Wayne Cotterly traveled to many of the schools on Nov. 26 to deliver the books.

While there, the Elks talked about the dictionary program to the students and introduced them to other programs the Elks offer.

Nationwide, the Elks have distributed in excess of 3 million dictionaries to students. For more information on the Elks, visit elks.org or the Maine Elks Association at maineelks.org.