Masons’ annual ‘Bikes-for-Books’ presentations begin April 30

PALMER — Matanuska Masonic Foundation is finalizing plans for its third annual Bikes-for-Books giveaway, the first of which is April 30 at Sherrod Elementary School.

Again this year, members of Matanuska Masonic Lodge No. 7 in Palmer have purchased and delivered bicycles to Butte, Finger Lake, Pioneer Peak, Sherrod, Sutton and Swanson elementary schools. The bikes will be presented to lucky students during the schools’ awards programs in late April and early May.

The Masonic program provides bicycles, helmets and locks to Mat-Su Borough elementary schools to help encourage reading.

The schedule for this year’s presentation is: Sherrod Elementary at 3 p.m., April 30; Finger Lake Elementary from 12:40 to 2:35 p.m., May 9; Swanson Elementary from 12:40 to 2:35 p.m., May 15; Pioneer Peak Elementary at 10 a.m., May 21; Butte Elementary, 4006 South Butte Road, Palmer at 9:15 a.m., May 22; and, Sutton Elementary, 0.4 Wright Way, Sutton at 9:30 a.m., May 22.

Funds to purchase the bicycles were provided by donations from members of Matanuska Masonic Lodge, Matanuska Valley York Rite Bodies and generous contributions from local community businesses. Local businesses that contributed to this year’s Bikes-for-Books program include the Palmer UPS Store, Palmer Fred Meyer, Matanuska Electric Association, Dr. Leonard Yuknis DDS, Palmer Stamp Cache and the Wasilla Wal-Mart.

For more information, contact Bo Cline at clineboak@gmail.com.