Page 19 - Essex Mason Issue 84

Charity

Work with your Local Charity

Ask about those major capital items – maybe a new minibus, a vital piece of expensive equipment or a key member of staff. Such
items that would make such a difference can be funded with a grant from our local charity – the MCF.
The charity has to apply for the grant by going online to https://mcf.org.uk/community and during the application they should
indicate that it is with the support of your Lodge or Chapter.

By this means you are effectively helping to decide where your money goes but it must be emphasised that the MCF can only
support one grant application in eight as they simply do not have a bottomless pit of money.

When you work with your local charity please consider those schemes that are likely to have the greatest impact on our Essex
community as these are the ones more likely to attract a substantial grant – and if you are not successful then try again the
following year.

Without our support then the MCF cannot continue with its vital work which is why our Festival 2022 Appeal is so important. You
as an individual or as a Lodge a Chapter can help in so many ways.

As an individual please take out a regular payment promise. You can obtain a form from your charity steward or go on line to
https://mcf.org.uk/festival/essex2022/ The good news is that you can still spread your payments over five years and at £8.50 a
month plus Gift Aid you will qualify for a Festival vice patron jewel; £17 a month for a Patron and £25 a month for a Grand Patron.

If your Lodge or Chapter has “war chests” please let us have that money now – it will attract 2% interest to swell your
total still further. You can still have a presentation at the end of the Festival to mark your contribution.

And finally it our intention to build a charity pot based on Craft beer and lager sales. For every pack
purchased at £25 we will credit for £4.80 of it to your Lodge or Chapter and most centres retail the ale
at a bottle of time. If you are having a party or barbecue please order our beer in advance and we will
deliver. If you drink beer – please drink ours.
Finally, if you need support then please e-mail at colin.felton@essexpgl.org and I or a member of my
team would be happy to visit.

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex takes part in 2,500 mile

relay for Lifelites

ssex recently took part in a unique charity fund-raiser to support
ELifelites, the charity which donates and maintains assistive technology
for children in hospices across the British Isles. The event involved Simone
Enefer-Doy, the Lifelites chief executive, visiting a famous landmark in
nearly every Province in England and Wales in just 14 days in what was
probably the wackiest relay ever. The route covered nearly 2,500 miles and
the transport for each leg of the journey was provided by Freemasons from
within their Province.

In Essex, Simone met Deputy PGM Paul Reeves at Tilbury Ferry terminal to
take the ferry to Gravesend to meet representatives from West Kent. She
was also met by the Widows Sons Iceni Chapter, who donated £250, and
representatives from Southend Masons, who presented her with a cheque for £1,500. Both these cheques contributed to their
incredible fundraising total of over £103,000.
Simone said: “Essex Freemasons are great
supporters of Lifelites, and we are so grateful
that you stepped forward to volunteer your time
to help transport me as part of this 2,500 mile
challenge. The trip has really captured people’s
imaginations. We have had an incredibly eclectic
mix of transport to take me to all four corners
of England and Wales and I can’t thank our
volunteers enough for lending their pride and joy
to help Lifelites achieve this challenge. It’s the
wackiest relay ever!”

To find out more about the work Lifelites does,
please visit the website at www.lifelites.org

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