In this day and age of computers, smartphones, and the worldwide web, it is still staggering to read reports on the state of our schools. In an effort to help improve literacy, our club started providing dictionaries to every 3rd-grade student in Hawkins County in 2007, and to date we have distributed over 2,500 books. It is truly a blessing to be able to... Read More

This is my favorite project. Sitting on the floor with 30 eager 3rd graders is a trip!! This is such a good way to reach the youngsters in our community.

We have participated in the dictionary project for the last 7 years. Now every 3rd grader has a dictionary. Before this project the schools were limited to 1 to 3 dictionaries per classroom. The dictionaries are a valuable information tool which holds the attention of 3rd graders.

We started this project about 5 years ago, and the schools are delighted, as are the teachers and parents. A wonderful project. As we return to the schools each year, the teachers tell us that the children continue to use their dictionaries as their grade levels advance – they do not “outgrow” them.

Willmar Lakes Rotary’s vision is to eliminate child illiteracy in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.

The students love the books! The third graders are thrilled to be able to write their names in them, knowing that they are theirs!

We’ve been participating for at least eight years. As a result of the success we are now very involved with our local district’s kids. We love this simple elegance of it.

We have participated for several years and often receive thank you letters from some of the classes each year. The first year we did the project one child wrote in his letter the dictionary was the first book they ever received. That story touched all our hearts and keeps us giving each year.

This program has provided our Elks Lodge an entry into area schools that has facilitated the introduction of our Hoop Shoot, Essay contest, Americanism & US flag program, and drug awareness education programs.

We have been giving dictionaries for the past eight or nine years to the public schools third grade classes in Leominster, Massachusetts. We love this project! This has been a favorite project for our club. Thanks for helping us to be able to donate again this year. Thanks again for making this program affordable. The children are thrilled with this gift.