In 2007, the Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club added to its many service endeavors the providing of student dictionaries to third graders of schools in both Garden City and Mineola, including Garden City’s Stewart and Stratford Schools, Saint Anne’s and St. Joseph’s schools and the Jackson Avenue School in Mineola.
Each year, between 500 and 600 dictionaries are distributed. As they visit each school, Rotary volunteers take this opportunity to speak with students about the origins of language and writing. Published by The Dictionary Project, the book includes sections on weights and measures, the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, maps of seven continents, information about each state, biographies of presidents, background on the planets in our solar system and other intriguing facts.
On Nov. 2, Rotary expanded the dictionary project with a presentation of a supply of the books to the New Ground organization located in Hempstead. Since 1991, New Ground has been passionate about helping families and veterans turn their lives around from homelessness and economic hardship to becoming successful homeowners and tax-paying citizens through the Interfaith Nutrition Network’s long-term housing program.
Living out its moto, “Service Above Self,” The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club meets on alternate Mondays at the Garden City Hotel from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. To receive information about becoming a member, call President Emily Franchina at 516-877-7500 or Vice President Susan MacDonald at 516-643-5286.
