It was a prodigious and plentiful gift.

Or so might say third-grade students from across South Whidbey.

Robert Jimenez and Chuck Prochaska recently distributed dictionaries to South End students on behalf of the Deer Lagoon Grange, continuing a long-standing community service by the grange members.

The dictionaries were distributed to thrid-grade students of Island Christian Academy, South Whidbey Elementary School, Wellington Day School, Whidbey Island Academy and Whidbey Island Waldorf School.

Prochaska said that this year there have been more than 48,000 dictionaries distributed in Washington. The Grange is proud to support the dictionary project through its “Word for Thirds” program, and Prochaska said the Deer Lagoon Grange welcomes members of the community to help with its efforts to support education on South Whidbey through this and other programs.