Allen Park third graders receive dictionaries

Third-graders in Allen Park received an extra gift during the holiday season, thanks to the Allen Park Kiwanis Club. Members of the Kiwanis Club presented 330 copies of Webster’s Dictionary for Students to the third-graders of Allen Park Public Schools, St. Frances Cabrini Catholic School and Inter-City Baptist School. The books were provided through the Dictionary Project, which provides students with dictionaries to keep as their own personal reference books. By providing this tool, teachers are assisted in helping students become active readers, good writers, creative thinkers and resourceful learners, according to the Kiwanis Club. The dictionaries help the students learn to use the English language effectively and assist them with their education, opening all of the opportunities a good education offers, they said. In addition to helping students develop their communication skills, the Dictionary Project allows sponsors to give another valuable gift — that of their time and example. An essential part of the project is that sponsors deliver the dictionaries personally to the students, demonstrating community service in action, and supporting the students in their efforts and school. The Kiwanis Club members said they gain as much as they give through this interaction, as the children’s enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge is inspiring. The parents and teachers are pleased and grateful for the gift as well, making this a great way to build relationships within a community. More than 14 million children have received dictionaries thanks to the generosity of sponsors who have participated in the Dictionary Project. Allen Park Kiwanis has presented dictionaries to third-graders since 2009. The Allen Park Kiwanis Club is a community service group that meets at 6 p.m. Tuesdays at the American Hungarian Reformed Church, 9901 Allen Road. The meetings include dinner and programs led by President Larry Franz. Funds are raised through an annual peanut sale and other events. The funds are returned to the community in many ways, including Kid’s Day in Champagne Park, maintaining Duda Tot Lot, Honor Students’ Banquet, services to the elderly and veterans, and much more. Community-minded residents are invited to visit a meeting. For more information, visit Facebook.com/AllenParkKiwanisClub.