Lancaster and District Group of Freemasons in the 23 lodges stretching from Silverdale in the north to Garstang in the south rose to the challenge to donate pet food for owners who were struggling to pay for food for themselves, let alone for their pets. The appeal was organised by the group coordinator Mike Craddock from Poulton le Sands Lodge No 1051.

Approximately half a ton of pet food was collected and handed over to Morecambe Foodbank Manager Dave Smith at the Platform on Wednesday 10 February by group chairman Neil McGill. The foodbank hands out this amount of pet food every 14 days to needy pet owners and donations from the public are always gratefully received.
Mark Allen from the Preston and District RSPCA Animal Centre was also presented with a cheque in the sum of £750.
In December, West Lancashire Freemasons responded to an appeal by Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison to support local foodbanks within our Province. The Lancaster and District Group donated over 5,000 items of food, toiletries, and Christmas gifts, together with a cheque in the sum of £2,500 to Morecambe Foodbank.
Every day people in the UK on a low income go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill. A simple box of food makes a big difference, with foodbanks helping prevent crime, housing loss, family breakdown and mental health problems.
The Morecambe Foodbank is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by the Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.
