How Freemasons are helping to tackle Covid crisis

The role of Freemasonry in society in the 21st century is sometimes not apparent, despite the ongoing evidence showing its relevance in modern society, writes Craig Bunday from Peterborough Freemasons.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st May 2020, 05:00 BST
Scrubs donated by the FreemsonsScrubs donated by the Freemsons
Scrubs donated by the Freemsons

This has largely been based on the Freemasons’ values of integrity, friendship, respect and charity and their contribution to society overall and support for their local communities.

These last few difficult weeks have shown all these in abundance where Freemasons have been taking part in the countrywide initiatives to help our key and frontline workers. This has included donations for materials for the manufacture of PPE, provision of meals for the homeless and home visits.

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In order for this to happen, good organisation must be involved and whilst this has been carried out at local level across Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire - with considerable funding being made available locally - added impetus has been given by the national Masonic Charity Foundation (MCF), the Freemasons’ charity, becoming fully involved.

To assist this, the MCF formed the Covid-19 Group and asked one representative to join the members of the MCF team in bi-weekly meetings – virtually, of course. Their main task is to decide on where the greatest emphasis should be placed and to make sure that the money given goes to the right place and as quickly as possible.

Over the years, the MCF has rightly been praised for the speed with which it is able to react to disaster situations and this has again been amply illustrated.

This mobilisation has allowed countrywide donations and aid to be given - just this last weekend The Sunday Telegraph carried a feature regarding the 1,000 tablets that have been donated by Freemasons to care homes and hospitals to enable patients to stay in touch with their families and friends.

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Peterborough Freemasons have also been keeping spirits up socially by means of Zoom and other similar platforms (pictured). Various quizzes, virtual social events and a ‘Masons Got Talent’ competition have helped members keep in touch.

As a fraternity aimed at also helping the wider community, the importance of staying in touch with each other and, by so doing so, being able to check on the wellbeing of all, particularly those who live alone, is paramount.

If you want to know more about Freemasonry in the Peterborough area, visit www.northants-huntsmasons.org.uk or call the Ellindon Masonic Centre on 01733 331948.

Related topics:PPENorthamptonshire