Lincolnshire’s Freemasons asked to nominate good causes to receive one of more than 70 £500 grants
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All of Lincolnshire’s 75 Freemasons lodges are being asked to nominate a charity or other good cause to be given a grant of at least £500 this year, with ten of them being match funded by the Freemasons’ charity the MCF to be given a total of £1,000.
The grants are part of an annual award scheme seeking to support the efforts of people working to make a difference in their communities.
Provincial Charity Steward Pete Tong said: “This is an opportunity for Freemasons to make a real difference to people living in their communities. We’re looking for charities or other good causes that could provide an even better service if they were given a grant of £500 – especially valuable after a year of Covid when income streams have been so severely squeezed. Now’s the time to put them forward for consideration.”
Pete said all Lodges were being contacted to seek nominations to sustain the long-standing tradition of giving. He added: “Over the years, Freemasons have donated thousands of pounds from their own pockets by putting money into the Lincolnshire Masonic Charity Association envelopes, or into collection plates, or by direct debit.
“Because we are involved in a five-year campaign to raise £2.25m for the Freemasons’ charity, Trustees of our New Provincial Benevolent Funds are relying on what was given in previous years, and which, through careful management has increased in value.”
Because of Covid-19, the deadline for applications has been extended to 31st October but any applications submitted by Lodges received after that will not be considered.
He added: “If your nominated good cause has a project in mind on which to spend the money, so much the better. These grants are about outcomes; about improving the service charities provide; and ultimately about improving the quality of life for people who, for whatever reason, aren’t as fortunate as the rest of us. Each can tell a story, but the first pages of that story are about making a grant application. Lodge secretaries have all the details, and I’d urge our members to put forward their ideas for nominations as soon as possible.”
