For dozens of second-grade students at Fairfield School and Young School, a commitment to reading paid off in a memorable way this spring. Thanks to a partnership between the Saco Masonic Lodge and the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation, 20 students at each school earned brand-new bicycles through the annual Bikes for Books program.
The initiative encourages young readers to develop strong literacy habits by rewarding their reading efforts with entries into a bicycle drawing. The more they read, the more chances they had to win. During the two-week period, Fairfield School second-graders tracked minutes read for a total of 4,097 minutes, while Young School second-graders tracked books read for a total of 743 books. The program combines two important ingredients for student success: a love of reading and the excitement of staying active outdoors.
"The Bikes for Books program is about more than giving away bicycles," said Andy Nightingale, representing the Saco Masonic Lodge. "We're encouraging children to set goals, challenge themselves as readers, and experience the rewards that come from hard work. At the same time, a new bike inspires kids to get outside, stay active, and enjoy all the adventures that summer has to offer."
During special school-wide assemblies, members of the Saco Masonic Lodge visited Fairfield and Young Schools to recognize student participation and draw the names of 40 lucky second-grade winners. Cheers erupted from classmates as students learned they would be heading into summer with a brand-new bicycle.
"This program creates excitement around reading in a way that students genuinely look forward to," said Wendy LeBlanc, principal of Fairfield School. "Whether they win a bike or not, every student benefits because they're spending time with books, building confidence as readers, and discovering stories that spark their imagination. We are incredibly grateful to the Masons for making this opportunity possible year after year."
Saco School Department Assistant Superintendent, Meg Parkhurst, noted programs like Bikes for Books help reinforce the lifelong value of literacy while creating positive experiences around reading. "Developing strong literacy skills opens doors to future learning and success. When students see reading celebrated and rewarded, it helps foster positive reading habits that can last a lifetime. Programs like Bikes for Books make literacy fun, engaging, and meaningful for our young learners."
This year's winners from Fairfield School included: Layan Albaldawi, Nicole Angay, Jaxon Barrett, Kingston Doody, Maddie Dyer, Jose Gutierrez, Ella Harper, Toby Ishya, Emmy Kellogg, Leighton LaFreniere, Marino Limauro, Jose Tshimayi Ngaba, Moises Ngaba, Calvin Nguyen, Natalie Normand, Viviyana Veeder Oliveria, Marcel Pelletier, Kit Rodgers, Millie Terry, and Ava Wildes.
This year's winners from Young School included: Evan Collard, Serenity Cote, Olivea Desmaris, Calvin Edmonds, Brooklyn Foglia, Henry Fox McLaughlin, Hailey Furbush, Josiah George, Dylan Heller, James Heller, Karoline Heller, Khloe Kalubi, Tori Labonte, Otis Leary, Isabel McPheters, Reina Mooradian, Nathan Smith, Nicholas Topchyyev, Natalie Watson, and Izzy Zubiate.
Student winners will pick up their brand-new bike at Saco’s Bike Rodeo on Saturday, June 13, 2026, between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., at Thornton Academy, with helmets provided by The Michael Goulet Foundation.
The partnership extends beyond the school year. This summer, the Saco Masonic Lodge will collaborate with Dyer Library/Saco Museum's Summer Reading Program, which kicks off June 20, 2026, and concludes with a celebration on August 28, 2026. Children and teens can register through the Dyer Library/Saco Museum website to earn entries toward additional bicycle prizes by completing reading and activity challenges.
The Masons also support Bikes for Books through their annual Charity Golf Tournament, scheduled for October 5, 2026 at Dutch Elm Golf Course in Arundel, which helps fund bicycles and literacy incentives for local students year after year. For more information or to sign-up, visit http://CharityGolfToday.com/sacolodge2026. For more information about the Masonic Bikes for Books program, visit https://masoniccharitablefoundation.org.
PHOTO ABOVE: Fairfield School second-grader Emmy Kellogg can’t contain her excitement when her name was drawn for a new bike at the school-wide assembly thanks to the Saco Masonic Lodge’s Bike for Books initiative.
FAIRFIELD SCHOOL WINNERS:
YOUNG SCHOOL WINNERS:
