Amity Lodge and Camden Library Team Up for Bikes for Books

Amity Lodge, Camden Library Team Up for Bikes for BooksDuring this summer almost 70 kids age 4 to 12 took part in the Camden Public Library Summer Reading Program, “One World, Many Stories”. Under the direction of Amy Hand, the kids explored the different continents of the world through reading, crafts and activities. The kids visited the local sea shore and learned about the sea and all its creatures.

According to Amy the kids had an added incentive to read this summer during the program as Amity Lodge #6 of Camden once again provided new bikes to some lucky readers and everyone who participated received a new bike safety helmet. The Camden Library and its children and families thank Amity Masonic Lodge for their donation of 18 bikes ensuring another successful summer reading program. Several young readers read over 100 books this summer and on average, each participant read twenty minutes every day. Each week we visited another of the 7 continents through stories, crafts and activities.

According to Brian Gasser, Amity Lodge Bikes for Books coordinator, “The program is sponsored by local lodges throughout Maine who raise money during the year for this program and then can apply for and receive matching funds from the Maine Masonic Grand Lodge Charitable Foundation. This matching grant helps Amity Lodge provide the number of bikes we do as well as providing each child with a new bike safety helmet.”

“It is a real pleasure to be involved with this program”, said Brian, “and it is really nice to see the faces of the young winners and those of their parents when a child’s name is called during the award portion.”

“Money for the matching grant was raised through generous donations during the dues process as well as through holding public suppers at the Masonic Hall”, said Jeff Sukeforth, Lodge Secretary. “Many thanks go to the Brothers who worked those suppers, met and assembled bikes and helped with the awards day at the library.”