Embracing the Community: How Toledo Lodge #834 is Helping Community Children
One of the main cornerstones of Freemasonry is charity. Providing support and a being a positive presence in Illinois Masonic Lodge communities is a goal of many Illinois Master Masons. Toledo Lodge #834 ran with this goal by supporting two local organizations: the Cumberland Backpack Ministry and the Cumberland Shoe Tree Program.
The Cumberland Backpack Ministry provides food for preschool to high school age children during the weekends and school breaks. This program depends solely on volunteers and donations. Volunteers bag food, sort the bags by grades, and delivers the bags to local schools. Each week, the Cumberland Backpack Ministry provides food to about 125 children. Since 2017, the Toledo Lodge #834 has donated $100 per quarter to the mission.
A unique youth organization that has Toledo Lodge’s support is the Cumberland Shoe Tree Program. The Cumberland Shoe Tree Program provides a new pair of shoes and a few pairs of socks to children in need. Shoes and socks are distributed to students from kindergarten to 12th grade. Most of the distribution is provided in the fall, just in time for back to school. This program has grown over the years and expects to provide shoes to over 300 students this fall. Toledo Lodge #834 has supported this program since 2012 by donating $100 a year.
This year, Toledo Lodge #834 wanted to provide more support to these worthwhile youth organizations. By partnering with Illinois Masonic Children’s Assistance Program (IMCAP) through the Youth Organization Connection, Toledo Lodge #834 was able to provide $1000 to the Cumberland Backpack Ministry and $5000 to the Cumberland Shoe Tree Program.
IMCAP is thankful to Toledo Lodge #834 and all the Illinois Masonic Lodges that support their local youth organizations and events. To learn more about the Youth Organization Connection and how to apply, please visit https://imcap.org/youth-organization-connection.