Barnwell County Rotary Dictionary Donation Empowers Local Third Graders

Barnwell County Rotary Dictionary Donation Empowers Local Third Graders

The Barnwell County Rotary dictionary donation project continues to strengthen literacy in South Carolina. Since 2012, the Rotary Club of Barnwell County has partnered with The Dictionary Project to give every third grader in the county a personal dictionary. To date, more than 4,000 students in both public and private schools have received this meaningful gift.

In a feature story published by The People-Sentinel on January 2, 2024, Rotary Club President Crissie Stapleton highlighted the significance of the initiative. During a recent school visit, she introduced students at Macedonia Elementary/Middle School to the word “eradicate” — a fitting tie-in to Rotary International’s global effort to eradicate polio.

Each student not only received their own dictionary to write their name in and keep, but teachers were also provided classroom copies. Rotarians took the opportunity to talk about their local and global work, from maintaining Little Wooden Libraries to recognizing student achievements throughout the year.

“This program brings reading into children’s hands and highlights Rotary’s commitment to education and community service,” said Stapleton. “Literacy is critically important, and I am proud our club prioritizes it countywide.”

This initiative aligns with Rotary International’s focus on basic education and literacy, a cornerstone of its mission to reduce poverty, improve health, and promote peace through education.

By combining community action with global awareness, the Rotary Club of Barnwell County demonstrates how local service can have far-reaching impact.