Bikes-for-Books program gives bikes to local kids

Members of Matanuska Lodge No. 7 participated in the Gold Medal Reading Awards program at Swanson Elementary School in Palmer May 9, which recognized students in kindergarten through second grades for their reading accomplishments.

Members of Matanuska Lodge and the Swanson Elementary School Library donated six bicycles, helmets and locks — one for a boy and girl in each grade level.

In its second year, Matanuska Lodge expanded its Bikes-for-Books program from two to six elementary schools in the Mat-Su Borough School District.

The group will present a bike to one lucky girl and boy at Swanson, Sutton, Finger Lake, Butte, Pioneer Peak and Sherrod.

The awards ceremonies are:

• Butte Elementary at 9 a.m., May 22.

• Pioneer Peak Elementary at 10 a.m., May 22.

• Sherrod Elementary at 1 p.m., May 22.

Funding to support the program this year came from contributions from members of Matanuska Lodge No. 7 and grants from Wasilla Wal-Mart, Palmer Fred Meyer, Matanuska Telephone Association, Palmer Stamp Cache and Palmer UPS Store.