Elks’ dictionary project wraps up

Valerie Edwards, dictionary project chairwoman at Stockton Elks Lodge # 218, has handed out 1,380 dictionaries to third graders at 16 schools in Lodi and Stockton. Edwards said the best part of this program is giving the children something that they can call their own. Inside the front cover, the dictionaries have the Elks’ emblem with a space for recipients to print their name. The project ended recently, and Edwards has since received numerous thank-you notes from the children.

One touching note was from a boy who explained why he liked the dictionary: The dictionaries have Braille inside, and now he can learn how to talk to his grandmother.