Fwd: Holiday Assistance

[Doug Ellis]

Brethren - 

I just received this attached gift request from our Community Resources Director, Bonny Wilbur.  Every year she compiles a list of families who she believes are worthy of generosity for the Holiday Season.  Their situations are heartbreaking.  In total she asked for help for 52 families / 101 children.

Here's a small sample:

• Mom is a veteran. Receives little support from child’s father. Always struggling to provide for her son.
• Mom works full-time, sole support for her child. Lost her job during COVID.
• Single Mom, gave birth this week, but remains sole support of her children. Works full-time when not on maternity leave. Struggles financially. 
• Dad on disability and unable to work due to TBI. Sole support of his child.
• Mom struggles to provide, unable to find steady job due to struggle with English. Had a baby last year, remains sole support of her child. 
• Mom is widowed. Works full-time but still struggles financially. 
• Dad works in minimum wage job to support his daughter. No family to help. Struggles financially. 
• Both parents work, but struggle to provide for their daughter, plus two older kids who are now young adults. 
• Single, working Mom, receives some support from child’s father. She is also raising ex-husband’s child by another woman, her child’s sibling.

Our current Angel Fund balance is $2,237.61.  If we donate our usual $50 per child (which is quite eroded by inflation) then we need $5,050.  So, our goal is to raise $2,812.39+ to cover this request. 

Brothers, this is what we as Masons do. Please be generous.  And, as an example to us all, Brother Christoper Knorr has VERY generously offered to MATCH all donations this year up to our goal!  

You can send checks made out to Corinthian Lodge with Angel Fund in the notes.  Please mail them to 58 Monument Square, Concord, MA 01742.

Or, you can Donate Now! via Paypal. 

Thank you so much brothers! 

Doug Ellis

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Bonny Wilbur <bwi...@concordma.gov>
Date: Thu, Nov 17, 2022 at 3:26 PM
Subject: RE: Holiday Assistance
To: doug...@gmail.com <doug...@gmail.com>

Hi Doug,

 

Here you go! As always, let me know if you have any questions at all.

 

You’ll see that our numbers are up very slightly this year – 52 families representing 101 children. I know I’m repeating myself, but this support from the Masons is so VERY much appreciated by these families.

 

Have a great Thanksgiving!

 

Bonny

 

 

From: Doug Ellis <doug...@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, November 4, 2022 9:06 PM
To: Bonny Wilbur <bwi...@concordma.gov>
Subject: Re: Holiday Assistance

 

Hey Bonny - 

 

Game on.  We’ll do what we do. 

 

Doug

 

On Fri, Nov 4, 2022 at 7:55 AM Bonny Wilbur <bwi...@concordma.gov> wrote:

Hi Doug,

Fall has arrived, and the holiday season is not far behind! I’ve begun work on the town’s holiday programs, and I’m reaching out to see if the Corinthian Lodge might once again be able to donate gift cards for Concord kids from low-income families?

If the Masons are once again able to help, I hope to keep a similar timeframe as we had last year. I will get you the anonymous list of families with children ASAP (I expect numbers will remain fairly similar to past years, last season the Corinthian Lodge gave gift cards to 99 children) once I get a thumbs up from you. Last year, you were able to get the gift cards to me early in December, which was great! Although, of course, any donation, at any time, is greatly appreciated.

I hope you and your family have been happy and healthy over this past year!

Best wishes,

Bonny Wilbur

Community Services Coordinator

Town of Concord, Massachusetts

55 Church Street

Concord, MA 01742

Tel. 978.318.3034

bwi...@concordma.gov

www.concordma.gov/community

 

[Doug Ellis]

Brethren - 

Less than 2 weeks ago I put out the call for donations for the annual Angel Fund gift card donations and you responded in a BIG way.  

Our goal was to raise $2,812.39.  We actually raised $3,244,41 - with another significant contribution pledged to come in December. 

A huge thanks to all who contributed - Today I supplied Bonny Wilbur (Community Services Director) with 50-$50 gift cards from Revolutionary Concord (which also has toys and art supplies), and 51-$50 gift cards from TJX.  I was able to get a discount from both to help us with next year.  Bottom line, we granted ALL the requests once again! 

So proud to be a Mason! 

Doug