Third graders in Vestal each received a book recently to help them with their studies.

The Vestal Elks Lodge kept up its annual tradition by delivering free dictionaries to every Vestal student in the third grade.

We caught up with them at Glenwood Elementary last week.

Since 2004, the Vestal Elks have donated over 3,700 dictionaries.

The goal is to help the kids become good writers, active readers and creative thinkers.

“It’s great to see kids react to getting a book and actually using a book. Everything is so computer-oriented or iPad or iPod. So, it’s nice to have these kids get their books, actually their own books, and they can utilize them as they wish,” said Exalted Ruler Mike Sage.

The nationwide Elks initiative is done in conjunction with the non-profit organization called The Dictionary Project.