Representatives from the local chapter of the Jamestown Elks #263 Lodge recently delivered personal dictionaries for each third grade student at Bush Elementary School. Every year, the Elks Lodge participates in this activity by donating dictionaries to third graders across Chautauqua County, including the Jamestown Public Schools. This is the seventh year the Elks have given the dictionaries with over 5,000 dictionaries given to area students in the Jamestown, Panama, Clymer, Southwestern, Bemus Point, Sinclairville, Cassadaga, Pine Valley, Falconer, Frewsburg, Holy Family and Bethel Baptist schools.
The Jamestown Elks, along with a Field of Interest Grant from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, funded the most recently donation of 975 dictionaries to local third grade students.
Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Executive Director Randy Sweeney said, “The Community Foundation was pleased to help fund Elks Lodge #263’s Dictionary Project. The money came entirely out of our Blossom Fund, a fund that provides support to education efforts. I want to thank the Elks Club for their efforts to provide a key book to the students in the area.” Each student will be able to take the dictionaries home and use them in the classroom.
“What a wonderful charitable activity for the men and women of the Jamestown Elks Lodge to do for our students. We at Jamestown Public Schools appreciate their kindness and the students will especially enjoy using their dictionaries in the classroom and at home,” said Tina Sandstrom, Director of Elementary Education.
Pictured are: Front row: Bush Elementary School third grade students Milaysha Anderson, Jasmine Buffone, Alexis Salvaggio and Phillup Harris. Middle row: Bush Elementary School third grade students Quincy Turner and Rome McBride Back row: Angie Peck from CRCF’s Field of Interest Grants Selection Committee and Rolland Phillips and Abe Rosenberg from the Jamestown Elks #263 Lodge.
