There’s nothing like riding a bike. Even in this age of technology, bicycling tends to be the outdoor sport of choice for many children. That’s why when the Mingo Masonic Lodge 206 was looking for a way to entice children to read, they decided to use bikes as a reward.

The Bikes for Books program has awarded 18 bikes and helmets to elementary-school-age children for reading comprehension since 2018. The program works with the Accelerated Reader (AR) program at elementary schools in Sampson County. Each nine-week term, students have an AR point goal set by their teacher to reach. The students are tasked to read books and test their comprehension in order to acquire his or her points.

Upon reaching his or her point goal, the student receives the chance to have their name entered into the bike drawing. Each time the student reads and passes a test, their name is entered into the drawing; more books read means more chances of winning.

However, providing this kind of program takes money, and expanding it takes even more. So, the organization looked to Operation Round Up for assistance.

“All three of our area elementary schools have reported positive impacts from the program. Most importantly, the kids are excited to read because the possibility of winning the bike is a good motivator.”

The Lodge received a $1,000 grant for the Bikes for Books program in 2019 and 2020. With these funds, they were able to purchase an additional 12 bikes and helmets.

“This was our second grant application attempt, and second time receiving a grant through Operation Round Up for the Bikes for Books Program,” said Patrick Blanchard, master of the Masonic Lodge. “Operation Round Up is a great way to fund programs that support our community.”

“We are very appreciative of South River EMC’s Operation Round Up fund for making Mingo Lodge’s Bikes for Books program possible,” said Blanchard. “A member of our fraternity had a child in kindergarten during the first year of our program and was familiar with the Accelerated Reader Program that their child was taking part in as a student, and since the ‘read a book, take a test’ framework was already in place, it seemed like a perfect fit,” he said.

Martin Jackson, past master of Mingo Lodge, expressed how the bike drawings have been a highlight at end-of-year assemblies for the last two years.

“Feeling the suspense just before the names are drawn and seeing the excitement on the faces of children, teachers, and parents,” said Jackson. “That is an indication that these bikes are sought-after prizes that encourage hard work and proficiency in reading and comprehension.”

The Masons have made a tremendous impact on their community with this program. In the first year, there was a 30 percent increase in the number of books read by kindergartners at Clement Elementary.

“All three of our area elementary schools have reported positive impacts from the program,” said Blanchard. “Most importantly, the kids are excited to read because the possibility of winning the bike is a good motivator.”

Lodge members wholeheartedly support Bikes for Books, by assembling the bikes each year. It has allowed the Masons to become more engaged in their community and to encourage students to read with passion.

“Freemasonry is about the individual improving himself and, by extension, his community through faith and education,” said Blanchard, “Literacy is the foundational element that makes it possible for a person to do that, so this program is a perfect match for our fraternity.”

Bikes for Books was put on hold for 2020 with COVID-19 closing out the school year. However, the funding is being held for the 2021 school year, ready for when the students go back to school. So everyone, get ready to read!

The Masonic Lodges of North Carolina are concerned with the welfare of widows and orphans and show their commitment by supporting the oldest children’s home in the state, Oxford Orphanage.

The Grand Lodge of North Carolina, the state’s governing masonry body, encouraged local lodges to become more engaged in their communities and schools. With that desire in mind, the Bikes for Books program was born.