Charity
It is said that the distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason's heart is Charity. Masons give as generously as each individual can afford. Over the years, Mitre Lodge members have contributed generously to both Masonic charities and Non-Masonic Charities. For example, a Flower Festival held at St. Helen’s Church, Eskrick raised almost £2400 for St Leonard’s Hospice, York, and £265 for the church, contributions totalling over £1000 have been made to Cancer Research and donations have been made to Archbishop Holgate’s School to assist in its bid for Specialist College status and to provide progress prizes for pupils. Recent donations have been to the Alzheimers Society, the York Special Care Baby Unit, York against Cancer and a local charity which provides support for handicapped children. With the support of the Provincial Grand Charity, funds have been allocated to provide a ‘sensory room’ for York’s Wilberforce Home for the Blind and for the purchase of a lap-top computer and a projector for Caroline’s Rainbow Foundation, which assists young people travelling overseas in their gap year. The Lodge’s Almoner’s Fund is maintained by activities and provides vouchers for Lodge widows at Christmas and covers any costs incurred when they are invited as guests to our social functions. Details of the Provincial Grand Charity can be found at:- |
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| http://www.pgl-york.org/Charity.html | |
| and for charities administered by Grand Lodge at: | |
| Grand Charity - www.grandcharity.org | |
| The Masonic Samaritan Fund - www.msfund.org.uk | |
| The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys - www.rmtgb.org | |
| Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution - www.rmbi.org.uk
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CHARITY LOLLIPOP GOES ‘DIGITAL’ THANKS TO MITRE LODGE Lollipop (York and District) identified a need for a Digital SLR Camera and flash to properly record their events and activities. Mitre Lodge was pleased to help them with the funding of this equipment and made a donation of £150. A further £350 was raised through a successful Grant Petition submitted to the Provincial Grand Charity allowing the charity to purchase this much needed equipment. On Saturday the 14th May the Worshipful Master of Mitre Lodge, W. Bro. Roy Crosbie-Wood accompanied by his Senior Warden, Bro. Martin Hemenway and PGC Area Representative W. Bro. Keith Bell visited a ‘Lollitots’ session (baby and toddler group) at the New Earswick Children’s Centre and presented the donation of £500 to Miss Andrea Gitsham, chairperson of the charity. A small plaque was also presented to mark the occasion. Andrea thanked the Freemasons for their donation on behalf of her charity saying that there were some 250 children/young people (0-19 years) in the York and District area that the charity currently helps and the camera will be put to good use producing quality photographs for their website and magazine and ultimately help publicise the work they do.
Left to right – Roy, Keith, Andrea holding the new camera, a parent holding the plaque that was presented, with Martin standing behind the mums and dads who were delighted to be included in the photo. Lollipop brings families of children and young people with any degree of hearing loss together through regular FREE social activities and gatherings in a relaxed and informal environment where they can share their experiences of deafness. They provide activities such as specialist workshops including Art & Craft, Music & Film, sporting activities, seasonal gardening and design projects together with larger social gatherings including regular trips to F1 racing, Tenpin Bowling, Waterworld and Quasar. ______________________________________________________________ |
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‘Heart of York Appeal’ The Lord Mayor of York presented a donation on behalf of Mitre Lodge of York and Provincial Grand Charity to help funds for the ‘Heart of York Appeal’ to raise £50,000 to purchase an Echocardiograph machine for York District Hospital, which will hopefully cut the waiting time for scans from six weeks to three weeks. Nigel Durham, consultant Cardiologist at the Hospital said the York Teaching Hospital’s Charity Fund was delighted to have the support of local Freemasons for this appeal. The cardiology department in York performs over 6,000 echocardiograms each year and are continuing to have an increased demand to investigate and assess patients who may have suspected heart problems. The new machine will enable patients to be seen more quickly and we will be able to treat them faster which will ultimately save lives. The department operates two machines at the moment and the additional machine will help to reduce the need for patients to have to travel to Leeds for their heart scans. Mitre Lodge raised £1,000 towards the appeal and the Provincial Grand Charity was delighted to have been able to boost this amount by £4,000 after receiving a Grant Petition submitted by the lodge. |
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Left to right - Neil Reader Charity Steward, Mitre Lodge, Mike Birch Chairman Provincial Grand Charity, Dr. Nigel Durham, Roy Crosbie-Wood Master of Mitre Lodge and the Lord Mayor of York Councillor Susan Galloway |
