GREENFIELD — In today’s digital age, when technology is changing the way we interact with printed books, the Greenfield Elks Lodge has continued its longstanding tradition of giving third-graders what they believe is an important and timeless tool — the dictionary.
“Unfortunately with the electronic era we’re in, every now and then the computer freezes and shuts down,” said Bob Mott, past district deputy at the Elks Lodge. “The dictionary doesn’t do that — you can still open up the dictionary and look up words.”
On Monday, Mott and Leading Knight Chet Saharceski handed out 170 dictionaries to third grade students in the Newton School, Four Corners School and Federal Street Elementary School. The Greenfield lodge has participated in the dictionary project for many years, raising money through suppers, raffles and benefits.
“If you could just see the (children’s) faces, they are just amazed at having their own dictionary, and there’s a place to put their name, and they can take it home and bring it back,” Mott said. “They really, really appreciate them.”
At each school they visited throughout the day, Mott said the students listened to a brief history of the Elks and the programs the lodge runs, and had the opportunity to ask questions.
“It’s been an ongoing program and it’s been a wonderful program. We feel that it’s the right age at third grade,” he said. “It’s just a fun, fun time.”