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December 21 all the food and gifts were delivered
and all the families were very thankful. It is such
a good feeling to be able to help.
A word from Wor. Jim Achenbach about our 2019
Christmas dinner and gift delivery....
Dear
Brethren and Ladies,
Every
year since our Partnership in Education program was created - for over
20 years
now, the members and ladies of our Lodge have volunteered at the
November
Stated Meeting to purchase the food and presents for six needy families
in our
community that have been selected by the school’s
staff. These
families enjoy a complete holiday meal, a Target gift card and presents
for all
the children in the selected families.
The
food includes everything needed for a family to have a complete
Christmas or
Holiday dinner. The gifts, which are from each child’s
wish-list,
are wrapped and have the children’s names on them. The
Partnership
in Education fund provides the gift cards so that the family can secure
some
needed items that we don’t provide.
On
the weekend before December 25th volunteers from the
Lodge meet
to organize and then go to the homes of the families and personally
deliver the
meals and gifts. You can imagine the faces on the parents
and
children when the deliveries are made. I can tell you from
experience that it is a heartwarming experience.
I’d
like to share with you one of the situations that we’ll be helping with
this
year. The dad in one family has been hospitalized after
having had a
heart attack and he won’t be able to work until after the
holidays. The mom’s work is very slow right now, so needless
to say,
this family is in a very tough place.
Our
efforts will not solve all of this particular family’s problems but,
for a
time, they will enjoy a wonderful meal, open great presents, and be
able to use
a gift card to go out and secure a few necessities. This
family,
along with five others, will enjoy some happiness because of the
efforts and
generosity of the Brethren and Ladies of S.W. Hackett Lodge #574.
If
you are interested in participating during this year, please attend the
December Stated Meeting Dinner – there are still volunteer
opportunities. If you’re interested in participating with
the
delivery on December 21st at 11:00, please let us know (info@freemason574.org);
we can use another driver and two navigators.
If
you did not take advantage of the opportunity to contribute to the
Partnership
in Education program when you paid your dues that’s okay – it’s never
too
late! Whenever you are able please mail a check to the Lodge
made
out to:
S.W.
Hackett Lodge # 574
Sincerely
and Fraternally,
Bro.
Jim Achenbach, PM
How fortunate we are to be able to do something that, in some small way,
helps some families have a good Christmas. We present them with turkey and all the fixing
to enjoy a beautiful Christmas dinner. We also present gifts to the children of these
families. Gifts that they would not normally be able to enjoy.
The group starts to build and the
preparation work begins to set out the six deliveries.
Ah, the organizer.. (the boss) Wor.
Achenbach starts to count to be sure all families are helped.
Wor. Michael Allen and Wor. Jim
with daughter Anna.
Beverly joins Michael and Anna with
more goods.
Phiny and Vinita packing up to deliver with Marty Haslim looking on.
Wor. Dimiter Lyakov with Wor. Salini and Wor. Allen.
First.... Just the ladies
Then, the whole group that gave of their time and money to bring food and gifts
to help some families in need to at least have a good Christmas.
GOD BLESS!!
Under the guidance of Wor. Achenbach, and the Partnership in Education
with Sequoia Elementary School, how long has
SW Hackett lodge been doing this?
Well.......... all the way back to 1999...
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