For 28 years, the Hays Optimist Club has been distributing dictionaries to all Ellis County sixth grade students and teachers.

Members handed out 322 Merriam-Webster dictionaries Tuesday at Hays Middle School and at Holy Family Elementary.  They also traveled to schools in Victoria and Ellis.

“Over 10,389 dictionaries have been distributed the past 28 years,”  according to project chairman Gary Wentling.  “The project is funded by our annual sale of natural Christmas trees.”

The Optimist Christmas tree lot opens the day after Thanksgiving, November 23,  in the Wal-Mart parking lot.