Freemasons throughout Furness and South Lakeland have wholeheartedly embraced the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Food Bank Appeal’, encouraged by the Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison.
As the idea of supporting our local foodbanks across the numerous lodges in the area gained momentum, November was chosen as our month to put on one side, an item of food per day, to be collected and distributed over the weekend of 12 December. If successful, involving every Freemason in West Lancashire, the Masons would hopefully achieve a total of 250,000 items of food, toys or monetary donations for our local areas.
Members of Arthur John Brogden Lodge No 1715 in Grange donated a magnificent £675 to their local foodbank. Rahina Borwick was extremely pleased and added: ”Many local families would benefit as the money would buy the essentials that were needed.”
The food donated was collected by volunteers and stored in the Fairfield Masonic Hall in Barrow for the appropriate period. It was divided between Spring Mount Food Bank, Walney and the Homeless Support Group, Bath Street, Barrow.
Catherine Irish, from the Homeless Support Group, was overcome when she saw the amount to be taken back to their centre. “I think I may need some help in transporting this!”
Many Masons gave money which enabled Barrow and Ulverston Food Banks to be given £3,100. Dalton Food Bank received £1,500 on top of the £660 given by Dalton-in-Furness Lodge No 6828 in the first lock down period.
A young Mason from Barrow, who works at Sellafield, was able to secure £250 from the company, who sent the money directly to the central foodbank office in Barrow.
The fact that £6,185 and approximately 2,000 items of food have been distributed within our local community in the Furness area is a great achievement – and even better- it is to be repeated next year.