Beverly/Salem Elks Lodge hands out 706 dictionaries

The Beverly/Salem Lodge of Elks No. 1309 presented 706 dictionaries to third-graders during the month of November as part of the Dictionary Project.

The Beverly/Salem Lodge gave out dictionaries to third-graders in the Salem, Marblehead, Ipswich and Essex public schools, as well as to three private schools in Beverly — Glen Urquhart, St. John the Evangelist and Beverly School for the Deaf.

The Dictionary Project was founded in 1995 by Mary French of Charleston, S.C. Elks Lodges across the country became involved in the project in 2004. More than 10.6 million dictionaries have been distributed in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Chairwoman Mary Tilas and Co-Chairwoman Susan Bresnahan coordinated the project for the Beverly-Salem Elks.