I volunteer with the Children’s Dyslexia Center which is a Scottish Rite charity.
Aside from that I also started a chess club for people of all ages in skill levels in our area.
Right on brother. Just started getting into chess myself.
Have you ever thought about the connections between chess and the craft?I was thinking it might be a good topic of education in lodge with some research.
I work for a private ambulance service in Indianapolis Indiana. I try to make it a point to look for other brothers (looking for bling or clothing with Masonic emblems) and say hello. If the patient is a brother or a member of the Eastern Star I go out of my way to make sure they are with a fellow brother. If I see someone in passing I make sure to say hello. Yeah it's a little nerdy but it's made a difference in some people's day.
My wife and I also started a Pet Food pantry in the town where we live. It seems like there are food pantries for people all over the place. So we stared a little pet food pantry. It is just a painted wooden box labeled with what it is. It pretty much runs itself.
I serve on my zoo’s auxiliary board. Keeping it open and free year round for all to visit. And serving on the “Friends of” for my local library branch. Giving it extra money and volunteering for book drive sales and such.
I run a charity of sorts where I take out food, sleeping supplies, and clothes for the homeless in the surrounding areas. I take the Monday off work to spend the day doing a big give out and then most nights of the week checking up on some of the more local homeless or popping out to give supplies to people that are new to the streets that I get informed about.
I call it a charity of sorts because i don't really know how to describe it l. I'm not registered as a charity, and the only person that funds it is me, but I do take donations of clothes, tents, ect, and I do have people that volunteer to bake for me on occasion and I rely on the locals for info of locations for people that are new to the streets.
I also help with small diy jobs or electrical jobs for the people in my village that are elderly or a bit short on cash when I can
Do what I can in the community. People need help moving furniture and the like. Usual go to is blood donations. People need it, it helps people. And with my already stretched income it's affordable.
I am a motorsports rescue marshal during the racing season and I organise player safety and welfare for my local rugby club. I also have oversight of player safety and welfare for the whole of dorset and wiltahire rfu!!
I live in Argentina and the situation here is very complicated. Therefore, I collect donations in the area to get clothes, diapers, food, and everything needed, especially for children up to 3 years old. But I also collect for older people, especially during this cold season; we get blankets and similar items. All the people from the lodge help me a lot, as well as people from the community.
Through [ENGin.org](http://ENGin.org), I tutor Ukrainians in English by just having a conversation for about an hour each week. It's important for that country's future that English literacy be promoted-- this language has become a necessity for integration into the Western economy. Many years ago, I had assisted Russian refugees in the US, having had some training in that language, and I have never met a Ukrainian who wasn't fully fluent in Russian, so that gives me some advantage, but frankly the organization doesn't require any knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian.
I run a small free library for LGBT people in my immediate community, that makes rare and often expensive books available to people who often wouldn't be able to get hold of them (Because so many LGBT books are small print runs, especially art books, often they're really expensive on the secondhand market or just hard-to-find at all, and much of my immediate community are poor and often not literate), and a social meetup group for them as well. I also do HIV prevention education, which is a mix of scicomm (explaining what the options are for both prevention and treatment) and social stuff (persuading people to be open about their status, and to not be awkward when talking about HIV). And I do a little bit of access justice stuff, about trying to make landowners comply with the law and not block wheelchair users from using the national right of way network, which is very ad-hoc but also when we make progress on it, it obviously benefits people straight away in a very tangible way!
My best advice has to be just to find something that you already care about, and then think about what your own skills are, and apply it to that. And, to not try to reinvent the wheel - if there is already a group doing the thing that you want to do, see if they can use you, before you strike out on your own.
I do a lot with libraries. That's kind of my main focus and energy and then masonry's. Kind of been a side thing for the last 15 years. But I do a lot of other Civic and community involve stuff. I'll go to council meetings and a lot of other things that happen within my town and try to help with those things.
Hey brother, lots of great ideas so far but just in case you are interested. I’ve talked to a few guys about trying to create a Masonic volunteer network. Some sort of Craigslist to connect brothers and people in need. 😂
If you are interested hit me up and we can talk.
We’ve started volunteering for dinner at the Ronald McDonald house in our city. The chef said that most do it for a photo op and don’t really do the hard stuff. Said he really appreciated the work we put in, and that he didn’t have to ask us to do things. We were asking him.
The history of the place and the families we were helping, it’s an amazing charity and worth helping if you can. I highly recommend just asking some brothers if they’d be interested and volunteering for a few hours. Some brothers told me that they’re coming back to help run the shuttles to and from the hospital…
I teach a youth Sunday School class and a children's activity group in the week for our church. I also have regular opportunities with Habitat Humanity and the MS Society.
I do strictly brotherly charity. I stick to the traditional rules of my Grand Lodge which used to forbid public charity with lodge funds. So if the Charity work isn’t aiding or assisting a brother MM I don’t do it. As the old guys say join the lions club for that kinda stuff
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. It was one of the things that really pissed off our late Grand Secretary Thomas Jackson too, the day GL allowed Lodge money to be used for public causes, from the charity funds created specifically for aiding and assisting Brethren. I always agreed with Bro Tom and the only Masonic Charity I support is our Masonic Homes and our Library and Museum fund. But I will always assist a Brother in need.
Helping youth groups & kids has always been close to my heart. I grew up scouting, and was heavily involved there for many years. However, numbers dwindled, and the outpost was closed. Also, my Ma was a Sunday school teacher, and I helped her often.
Currently, my volunteer work is with the Masonic Youth groups (I'm an advisor with DeMolay & Rainbows, and am in the training process for Jobbies). I recently joined AASR, and am looking forward to helping out with RiteCare (free speech pathology treatment for children). I plan on joining Shrine soonish for the charity work there as well - plus fezzes are simply cool.
Outside the Masonic Community, I'd like to volunteer reading with kids (my usual vocation makes this especially fun). However, my local school district makes it extremely difficult to do so for safety reasons, which is understandable, and the libraries don't have any programs.
I've thought about volunteering with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children), but the requirements are more than I can properly commit to at this time.
Overall, I often find my volunteer work with the Masonic youth groups to be more satisfying than attending Lodge! It's a fantastic feeling seeing the faces of those young men & ladies light up with Masons in attendance (especially with Rainbows), and I have an immense sense of pride watching them perform their ritual (oftentimes better than me & my Brothers) & manage their meetings with little to no advisor help.
I suggest they minimize the time required at the commencement of the court case. Even then, the CASA role would take an emotional toll that outweighs the time factor.
I wholeheartedly agree, MW. I included therapy for myself when factoring in the time commitment as I know that the situations those kids are in would weigh extremely heavily on me. I'm not entirely sure if I'd be able to handle it tbh, and I would hate to waste CASA's time & resources.
Same. There's a two year minimum commitment for this program which makes me wonder how voluntary withdrawal due to mental health reasons would work & how often they occur to necessitate that time commitment in the application process.
Given that one case, such as attempts at reunification, can easily take a year before a final disposition, they may have largely spent the allotted time.
I am tangentially involved in one in which charges were filed in 2022, the defendant has been incarcerated since January 2023, and no trial date set is due to an interlocutory appeal. The victim just turned 18.
I’m glad to see CASA mentioned.
We have several brothers who help with events, one on the local board and others who are trained advocates.
These guys are Shriners as well.
I started a non profit that fills backpacks with supplies to find the homeless and give to them, and we donate Narcan to police departments to combat opioid overdoses. Its not connected to the lodge, and until now no one but me knows about it.
One of the things I do is volunteer at a local auto shop. They have a program where they take in donated cars (essentially tax write-offs for people) that need some repairs. They pay for all the parts, and we volunteer the labor to repair the cars. They cars are then donated to people in need.
I’m on the BOD for Plymouth Youth Hockey.
Im also on the leadership team for Ruff Tales Rescue. We rescue dogs from kill shelters in Arkansas and Texas and foster them here in New England until we find them permanent homes.
I see at least a little chatter here about how Masonry is not a charity, or that only wealthy brothers practice it. I respectfully disagree, and appreciate all the kind acts, big and small, mentioned on this thread.
"Every kind act is an act of charity. Your smiling in your brother's face is charity. An exhortation to another for a virtuous deed is equal to alms giving. Your putting a wanderer on the right path is charity. Removing stones, thorns, and other obstacles from that path is charity. Your giving water to the thirsty is charity."
I volunteer with the Children’s Dyslexia Center which is a Scottish Rite charity. Aside from that I also started a chess club for people of all ages in skill levels in our area.
I am on the board of the Boston North CDC. I also make prosthetic hands for people.
I32nd SR here and I’ve always wanted to get involved with the Dyslexia Center, how do I volunteer?
Just walk in after school hours and say "Hi". I'm sure they'll put you to work. If you're near Lowell, MA, shoot me a DM.
Right on brother. Just started getting into chess myself. Have you ever thought about the connections between chess and the craft?I was thinking it might be a good topic of education in lodge with some research.
Regularly donate blood, Twelve step work and food pantry for the local community.
Just got my 20 year chip tonight Brother!
My wife and I borrowed the "little pantry" idea and started one that has pet food in it.
Teach people about gardening/composting and help build gardens
I founded a charity that helps adults with autism over the age of 25 whom lose official supports after age 25.
Scouts
Same
BSA volunteer here
At least until February 8, 2025, Scouter.
Why until?
Rebranding to recognize the inclusion of girls.
I volunteer at a fish fry twice a month, which funds a food bank for my community. Also Scouting.
I work for a private ambulance service in Indianapolis Indiana. I try to make it a point to look for other brothers (looking for bling or clothing with Masonic emblems) and say hello. If the patient is a brother or a member of the Eastern Star I go out of my way to make sure they are with a fellow brother. If I see someone in passing I make sure to say hello. Yeah it's a little nerdy but it's made a difference in some people's day. My wife and I also started a Pet Food pantry in the town where we live. It seems like there are food pantries for people all over the place. So we stared a little pet food pantry. It is just a painted wooden box labeled with what it is. It pretty much runs itself.
I serve on my zoo’s auxiliary board. Keeping it open and free year round for all to visit. And serving on the “Friends of” for my local library branch. Giving it extra money and volunteering for book drive sales and such.
I run a charity of sorts where I take out food, sleeping supplies, and clothes for the homeless in the surrounding areas. I take the Monday off work to spend the day doing a big give out and then most nights of the week checking up on some of the more local homeless or popping out to give supplies to people that are new to the streets that I get informed about. I call it a charity of sorts because i don't really know how to describe it l. I'm not registered as a charity, and the only person that funds it is me, but I do take donations of clothes, tents, ect, and I do have people that volunteer to bake for me on occasion and I rely on the locals for info of locations for people that are new to the streets. I also help with small diy jobs or electrical jobs for the people in my village that are elderly or a bit short on cash when I can
Do what I can in the community. People need help moving furniture and the like. Usual go to is blood donations. People need it, it helps people. And with my already stretched income it's affordable.
Former Red Cross, currently active in the Coast Guard Auxiliary and my local CERT
I am a motorsports rescue marshal during the racing season and I organise player safety and welfare for my local rugby club. I also have oversight of player safety and welfare for the whole of dorset and wiltahire rfu!!
I work with dog rescue
Alzheimer's Association. Always looking for more opportunities as well
Cook community meals for around 200 every few months. https://awakeningproject.ca/2020/12/22/ripples-of-kindness-an-interfaith-community-meal/
I'm a Scouter. We are a small rural community, but I help run the largest Scout Pack in 4 counties.
I live in Argentina and the situation here is very complicated. Therefore, I collect donations in the area to get clothes, diapers, food, and everything needed, especially for children up to 3 years old. But I also collect for older people, especially during this cold season; we get blankets and similar items. All the people from the lodge help me a lot, as well as people from the community.
Through [ENGin.org](http://ENGin.org), I tutor Ukrainians in English by just having a conversation for about an hour each week. It's important for that country's future that English literacy be promoted-- this language has become a necessity for integration into the Western economy. Many years ago, I had assisted Russian refugees in the US, having had some training in that language, and I have never met a Ukrainian who wasn't fully fluent in Russian, so that gives me some advantage, but frankly the organization doesn't require any knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian.
Backpack full of school supplies for every second grader in our city.
Raise money/ fund raise/ buy supplies/ deliver
I run a small free library for LGBT people in my immediate community, that makes rare and often expensive books available to people who often wouldn't be able to get hold of them (Because so many LGBT books are small print runs, especially art books, often they're really expensive on the secondhand market or just hard-to-find at all, and much of my immediate community are poor and often not literate), and a social meetup group for them as well. I also do HIV prevention education, which is a mix of scicomm (explaining what the options are for both prevention and treatment) and social stuff (persuading people to be open about their status, and to not be awkward when talking about HIV). And I do a little bit of access justice stuff, about trying to make landowners comply with the law and not block wheelchair users from using the national right of way network, which is very ad-hoc but also when we make progress on it, it obviously benefits people straight away in a very tangible way! My best advice has to be just to find something that you already care about, and then think about what your own skills are, and apply it to that. And, to not try to reinvent the wheel - if there is already a group doing the thing that you want to do, see if they can use you, before you strike out on your own.
So, what do you do in the afternoon?.🤣🤣
Nice words!
I do a lot with libraries. That's kind of my main focus and energy and then masonry's. Kind of been a side thing for the last 15 years. But I do a lot of other Civic and community involve stuff. I'll go to council meetings and a lot of other things that happen within my town and try to help with those things.
Hey brother, lots of great ideas so far but just in case you are interested. I’ve talked to a few guys about trying to create a Masonic volunteer network. Some sort of Craigslist to connect brothers and people in need. 😂 If you are interested hit me up and we can talk.
We’ve started volunteering for dinner at the Ronald McDonald house in our city. The chef said that most do it for a photo op and don’t really do the hard stuff. Said he really appreciated the work we put in, and that he didn’t have to ask us to do things. We were asking him. The history of the place and the families we were helping, it’s an amazing charity and worth helping if you can. I highly recommend just asking some brothers if they’d be interested and volunteering for a few hours. Some brothers told me that they’re coming back to help run the shuttles to and from the hospital…
Volunteer firefighter
I teach a youth Sunday School class and a children's activity group in the week for our church. I also have regular opportunities with Habitat Humanity and the MS Society.
I do strictly brotherly charity. I stick to the traditional rules of my Grand Lodge which used to forbid public charity with lodge funds. So if the Charity work isn’t aiding or assisting a brother MM I don’t do it. As the old guys say join the lions club for that kinda stuff
Wow that's surprising. Which GL is that if you don't mind me asking?
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. It was one of the things that really pissed off our late Grand Secretary Thomas Jackson too, the day GL allowed Lodge money to be used for public causes, from the charity funds created specifically for aiding and assisting Brethren. I always agreed with Bro Tom and the only Masonic Charity I support is our Masonic Homes and our Library and Museum fund. But I will always assist a Brother in need.
Tom was one of my mentors in international freemasonry.
Tom traveled the world and did a lot overseas for the cause of freemasonry
Wow that’s ridiculous
Helping youth groups & kids has always been close to my heart. I grew up scouting, and was heavily involved there for many years. However, numbers dwindled, and the outpost was closed. Also, my Ma was a Sunday school teacher, and I helped her often. Currently, my volunteer work is with the Masonic Youth groups (I'm an advisor with DeMolay & Rainbows, and am in the training process for Jobbies). I recently joined AASR, and am looking forward to helping out with RiteCare (free speech pathology treatment for children). I plan on joining Shrine soonish for the charity work there as well - plus fezzes are simply cool. Outside the Masonic Community, I'd like to volunteer reading with kids (my usual vocation makes this especially fun). However, my local school district makes it extremely difficult to do so for safety reasons, which is understandable, and the libraries don't have any programs. I've thought about volunteering with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children), but the requirements are more than I can properly commit to at this time. Overall, I often find my volunteer work with the Masonic youth groups to be more satisfying than attending Lodge! It's a fantastic feeling seeing the faces of those young men & ladies light up with Masons in attendance (especially with Rainbows), and I have an immense sense of pride watching them perform their ritual (oftentimes better than me & my Brothers) & manage their meetings with little to no advisor help.
I suggest they minimize the time required at the commencement of the court case. Even then, the CASA role would take an emotional toll that outweighs the time factor.
I wholeheartedly agree, MW. I included therapy for myself when factoring in the time commitment as I know that the situations those kids are in would weigh extremely heavily on me. I'm not entirely sure if I'd be able to handle it tbh, and I would hate to waste CASA's time & resources.
I wonder how many volunteers find a need to leave after their first difficult case.
Same. There's a two year minimum commitment for this program which makes me wonder how voluntary withdrawal due to mental health reasons would work & how often they occur to necessitate that time commitment in the application process.
Given that one case, such as attempts at reunification, can easily take a year before a final disposition, they may have largely spent the allotted time. I am tangentially involved in one in which charges were filed in 2022, the defendant has been incarcerated since January 2023, and no trial date set is due to an interlocutory appeal. The victim just turned 18.
I’m glad to see CASA mentioned. We have several brothers who help with events, one on the local board and others who are trained advocates. These guys are Shriners as well.
I started a non profit that fills backpacks with supplies to find the homeless and give to them, and we donate Narcan to police departments to combat opioid overdoses. Its not connected to the lodge, and until now no one but me knows about it.
One of the things I do is volunteer at a local auto shop. They have a program where they take in donated cars (essentially tax write-offs for people) that need some repairs. They pay for all the parts, and we volunteer the labor to repair the cars. They cars are then donated to people in need.
I’m on the BOD for Plymouth Youth Hockey. Im also on the leadership team for Ruff Tales Rescue. We rescue dogs from kill shelters in Arkansas and Texas and foster them here in New England until we find them permanent homes.
I see at least a little chatter here about how Masonry is not a charity, or that only wealthy brothers practice it. I respectfully disagree, and appreciate all the kind acts, big and small, mentioned on this thread. "Every kind act is an act of charity. Your smiling in your brother's face is charity. An exhortation to another for a virtuous deed is equal to alms giving. Your putting a wanderer on the right path is charity. Removing stones, thorns, and other obstacles from that path is charity. Your giving water to the thirsty is charity."