Following an annual tradition, the Wareham-New Bedford Lodge of Elks #73 donated a grand total of 508 dictionaries to Lodge area third graders this year.

A total of 167 dictionaries were donated to third grade students in Wareham and more the 15 million students have received their first reference book through this event over the course of it’s existence. 

After receiving their dictionaries, students are asked to find certain words and read the definition out loud as a means of promoting literacy.

The tradition of Elks donating dictionaries dates back to 1994 with Mary French of Charleston, South Carolina. The goal of the donations is to promote literacy in the third grade as the students transition from knowledge-based to reference style learning.

This year’s project was led by chairman Susan Gifford, PER.