Reading earns WES students new sets of wheels
David Sawyer of Lincoln Lodge #3 of Masons presents kindergartener Cora Robinson with her new bicycle. PHIL DI VECE/Wiscasset Newspaper
Wiscasset Elementary students pose with their new bicycles. From left are: Dykenn Howard, Cora Robinson, Corbin Bryer, Preston Giles, Makynlee Wright, Arianna Scott, Jameson Lincoln, Nicole Caton, Mia Marshall, Gavin Keene and Brooke Lincoln. Lincoln Lodge members shown are Jim Munson, David Sawyer, Chuck Billings, Dave Renfro, Jeff Averill and Paul Bonyun. PHIL DI VECE/Wiscasset Newspaper
Lincoln Lodge #3 on Fort Hill Street, Wiscasset raised enough money to buy 12 bicycles in its Bikes for Books program. PHIL DI VECE/Wiscasset Newspaper
David Sawyer of Lincoln Lodge #3 of Masons presents kindergartener Cora Robinson with her new bicycle. PHIL DI VECE/Wiscasset Newspaper
Wiscasset Elementary students pose with their new bicycles. From left are: Dykenn Howard, Cora Robinson, Corbin Bryer, Preston Giles, Makynlee Wright, Arianna Scott, Jameson Lincoln, Nicole Caton, Mia Marshall, Gavin Keene and Brooke Lincoln. Lincoln Lodge members shown are Jim Munson, David Sawyer, Chuck Billings, Dave Renfro, Jeff Averill and Paul Bonyun. PHIL DI VECE/Wiscasset Newspaper
Lincoln Lodge #3 on Fort Hill Street, Wiscasset raised enough money to buy 12 bicycles in its Bikes for Books program. PHIL DI VECE/Wiscasset Newspaper
“Reading will take you further than anything else in life,” David Sawyer of the Lincoln Lodge #3 of Masons told the student body of Wiscasset Elementary School Friday. It also got a dozen boys and girls new bicycles.
The lucky students were rewarded with a new set of wheels by reading books. The K-5 school teamed up with the Masonic Lodge based on Fort Hill Street, Wiscasset for their Bikes for Books program. Students earned an entry for the bicycle drawing for every book they read.
Sawyer, Lincoln Lodge’s Worshipful Master, told Friday morning’s assembly Masonic lodges from across the state sponsor the annual program that encourages kids to read. The assembly was held in the school’s gymnasium.
“We hope next year to have more bicycles so more of you who participate will have a chance to win,” he said, adding, “it was wonderful seeing so many smiling faces.”
Lincoln Lodge member David Renfro organized the fundraising drive that started over the winter and was supported by Wiscasset-area businesses and private donations.
“We raised enough money to purchase 12 bicycles. They all came directly from the manufacturer, Huffy, based in Dayton, Ohio,” Renfro told the Wiscasset Newspaper. Jim Munson and other Lincoln Lodge members also helped with the fundraising effort.
“Every bike came with a safety helmet, also provided by Huffy,” Renfro said.
There was no minimum on the number of books the kids needed to read to be entered in the drawing. Because it was open to all grade levels, every boy and girl had the opportunity to participate.
Superintendent of Schools Terry Wood thanked Lincoln Lodge and all the community contributors to the program. She also congratulated all the participating students.
Two bicycles per grade were given away to a boy and girl. The winners were: kindergarten, Dykenn Howard and Cora Robinson; first grade, Corbin Bryer and Arianna Scott; second grade, Preston Giles and Makynlee Wright; third grade, Jameson Lincoln and Nicole Caton; fourth grade, Connor Knight and Mia Marshall and grade five, Gavin Keene and Brooke Lincoln.
Other Lincoln Lodge members at the ceremony were Chuck Billings, Jeff Averill and Paul Bonyun.
Bikes for Books is a nationwide program. It was started in Maine in 2006. Masonic lodges in Bristol, Boothbay and Dresden also participate.
Event Date
Address
United States
