Quick News Archives
December 2004
12/23 - Dover-Sherborn Press -
Dover kids receive
gifts from the Masons
This holiday season, the Masons of Massachusetts are assisting
critical- and urgent-need children and families of deployed
military personnel in Dover. Through the Masonic Angel Fund,
which provides basic necessities to schoolchildren in need, the
Masons have teamed up with the USO New England Council to
provide holiday toys, clothing, games and gifts for several
local children.
USO New England Executive Director Alice Harkins recently
received thousands of dollars from the Masons to assist dozens
of these children in an effort to give them a happy holiday.
Harkins used the donations and funding to purchase as many toys,
dolls, games, books, clothing, sports equipment and other gifts
as possible through clearance sales, discounts and the
cooperation of local merchants for the benefit of the children.
"These children and families face significant hardship, both
financially and emotionally, during the holidays," said Harkins.
"The Masons are constant supporters of the USO, and we truly
appreciate their generosity as they provide the best of holiday
experiences for children suffering as a parent is deployed. By
providing these gifts, the Masons are bringing smiles to dozens
of military families statewide."
The Masonic Angel Fund, a program of the Grand Lodge of Masons
in Massachusetts, was founded in 1998 by John Alden Sherman and
Robert W. Fellows, two members of Universal Lodge A.F. & A.M. in
Orleans. It has spread to 90 lodges in 10 states. One of the
fundamental principles of the MAF is that 100 percent of the
money raised remains in that community and every penny goes to
children.
12/20 - Marine Lodge MAF
(Falmouth/Mashpee, MA)
The following request was received from the Morse Pond School
today. According to MAF trustee Barry Panish, the Marine Lodge
Masonic Angel Fund provided a total of $1,200 to help these six
families through Christmas.
As with most of our experiences, the school staff at Morse Pond
leverage MAF funds to provide the maximum retail yield for each
dollar we provide.
Below are the words of the school professionals describing the
families Marine Lodge helped today:
Family #1 - Family consists of a great grandmother raising three
children ages 12, 11, 9 (2 boys, 1 girl) from two different
relatives. We would like to help them with gifts and necessary
clothing.
Family #2 - Family consists of mother and one son, ten years of
age. The mother has lost her job in recent months and has few
skills to compete in the job market. She is trying to work but
having little luck. We would like to provide a Christmas for her
and her special needs son as well as to get her gift
certificates for food.
Family #3 - Family consists of mother and three boys, ages 17,
16 and 12. The father is in jail and is estranged from the
family at this time. The mother is unable to work due to an
injury from a fall and gets minimal assistance from state
agencies. The older two boys help out as much as possible with
part time jobs. This is a family that asks for very little. We
would like to buy food, clothing and gift certificates for them.
Family #4 - Family consists of mother and four children, ages
14, 13, 10 and 8 (3 girls, 1 boy). The mother has several part
time jobs and works very hard. The youngest child has severe
special needs and requires a lot of care. It would be wonderful
to relieve mom's stress by providing her family with presents
and food for the holidays.
Family #5 - A foster child, age 11, who has returned to her
Falmouth foster family because her transfer back to her mother
was not successful. This child has been in DSS custody for many
years and it does not look hopeful that her mother will be able
to care for her. When sent back to Falmouth, the child had
basically nothing with her. Even her toys and games were not
returned. So, she has re-entered the foster home with very
little. We would like to help the foster mother replace clothing
items, winter coat, games...etc.
Family #6 - This family has three children, ages 12, 11 and 7.
Once of the children has cancer and the medical bills have been
staggering due to no health insurance. This family has normally
not been financially stricken, but the medical costs and the
family stress of a child with severe medical issues continuing,
has been a big blow for this family. We are trying to help make
their Christmas a wonderful time with presents and food...
12/19 - Artisan Lodge MAF (Winchendon, MA)
Artisan Lodge has funded the following Christmas benevolences to date:
$200. for gifts and party sponsorship for 32 children who are residents of a
local subsidized housing project. The event was held at our Lodge with a visit
from Santa.
$253. to sponsor athletic fees and hockey equipment for 2 foster students at the
Middle School. Money was leveraged by contacting another community service group
and obtaining some used equipment one of their members had which he donated.
$150. for USO Christmas packages for three children of Winchendon's deployed
service people.
$138.17 for 20 sets of mittens and hats for Head Start students.
$825. for 11 needy families requested by our Memorial Elementary School nurse
and guidance councilor.
Amount to date: $1566.17
Pat Doyle
Artisan Lodge MAF Trustee
12/16 - Needham Masonic Angel Fund (Needham, MA)
From Bro. Lawrence Trecartin, MAF trustee in Needham, MA…
As fate would have it, Deke [Eaton] and I were in Needham today working on the
Christmas tree lot that Nehoiden and Norfolk lodges have each year as our main
fund raiser. At lunch time, Deke's wife Nancy came to us with information that
one of the school nurses was trying to get in touch with us. After lunch,
instead of calling her, we drove directly to her school and spoke to her and two
other nurses in her office. The information appears below. I had my “Angel Fund
Bag” with me and was able to satisfy this request on the spot. This was by far
the most troubling request, for me, which I have dealt with so far. The three
nurses present were so thankful I honestly thought they were going to tears.
This is one I will not forget for a while.
This request covers a high school girl and in part, her family. The mother is a
single parent. There are three children at home. There is no father in the
picture. The mother works for a very small salary, lives in subsidized housing
and is not meeting her monthly bills. This request is for clothing for the
children and for some food certificates. While we were interviewing the school
nurse, we found out that this family was in such dire need; the school personnel
was taking up a collection to help the family. Also while we were interviewing
the school nurse, we found out that there was not going to be a Christmas tree
in the home this Christmas. The two Masonic lodges in Needham run a Christmas
tree lot with wreaths and all the trimmings. Hearing of this shortfall, we saw
to it that a tree was made available for this family, obviously, free of charge.
After discussion with the school nurse, it was decided $250.00 would supply
clothing for the above student and cover some appropriate Christmas gifts for
the family.
12/16 - Mount Horeb Lodge MAF (Dennis, MA)
MAF Trustee Jim St. Pierre reports that he received the request below
Thursday (after school hours) from a nurse at one of his schools. He dropped off
a check at the school first thing on Friday morning.
Hi Jimmie,
I am requesting help from the Mason Angels for a very special boy who is vision
impaired. His vision specialist has given me a list of things that would be of
great benefit to his growth and development.
Braille Watch 59.95
Talking Alarm Clock $9.97
Up Words Braille Game $29.95
Braille Read and Sing Talking Frog $46.00
Braile Uno Cards $ 10.75
The total is $156.64 plus shipping.
I realize that this is quite a large request. The child is very bright and would
benefit greatly from these educational items. I also know that the family is
unable to provide these things. Thank you so very much for any assistance that
you are able to give.
Merry Christmas,
Fran
12/15 - Gardner MAF, Hope Lodge (Gardner, MA)
Dear Bob:
On Dec. 15, 2004 Gardner MAF, Hope Lodge, spent
$3485.27 for 83 coats, hats, and mittens for children in the Gardner and
Templeton school districts. This is the fourth year in a row that Gardner MAF
has assisted children in the area.
Best Holiday wishes to all,
Dave Crumbley
Editors Note: This represents $41.99 per child
12/12 - Mystic Valley Masonic Angel Fund, (Arlington, MA)
Good news, Brethren –
I had the great opportunity to spend an hour today journeying to/from the East
Somerville Community School where I was able to hand deliver the check for $1000
from the Mystic Valley Masonic Angel Fund! It felt very nice being in that role.
The faculty has identified several families in the area dependent on single
parents to raise 4 or 5 kids each. In each case, the families are in the midst
of some very serious financial challenges; so, rather than spread a single
present to lots of families, they decided to really help out some folks that are
on the verge of collapse. They interrupted a couple meetings so the principal,
assistant principal and two guidance counselors could come out and express their
appreciation for our support. Just thought I’d pass along a bit of the good
feeling that I’m blessed to be able to witness directly …
Ted Wilson
12/5 - St John's Lodge (Newburyport, MA)
St. John's Lodge MAF continues its very busy stretch. Here are excerpts from
some of their communiqués over the last two weeks
November 22 - This morning I received a call from the nurse at the Round School
in Newbury, Ma., a 5th grade boy broke his glasses and is in need of a special
pair and the nurse new the family has many children and are all ready on the
Mass. Health Program. The optometrist just became familiar with the the "Angel
Fund Program" in fact, I recently paid him a personal visit to explain the Fund.
Having had the relationship established with personal touch, a simple call
pledging $200 to cover this expense allowed the glasses to be ordered
immediately. The Optometrist's secretary will receive the check today!
November 23 - $173.47 for a high school boy in need of winter clothing
November 24 - $100 to provide a necessary physical exam for a child with no
medical coverage
November 29 -
Today, I was called by the nurse at the Nock Middle School in Newburyport. She
asked if we could cover the cost to purchase bus fare for a special needs
student that comes to Newburyport from Amesbury. We had helped back in September
for the first couple of months and now this is a continuation of the same. She
explained that this is a family in great need and the child is best served by
the Newburyport special ed program. A check was written $180 to cover fare for
the rest of the school year. My daughter will deliver the check to the nurse in
person tomorrow.
November 30 - "Winter jackets, gloves, boots...etc." for twin boys in the eighth
grade and their sister in the fifth grade - $416.41.
December 1 - $400 at TJ Maxx to cover winter clothing and outerwear for four
students from the Solstice School in Rowley. The nurse will take the children
shopping.
Fraternally
Brother Rob Roy, Trustee - MAF #63
St. John's Lodge, Newburyport, Ma.