MASONIC ANGEL FOUNDATION
UPDATE – December 15, 2002
Indianapolis, Indiana
weighs in - Broad Ripple Lodge MAF brightens Christmas for children in need
The
Broad Ripple Lodge Masonic Angel Fund has donated an eye exam and new glasses
for a 2nd grade student at the Indiana School for the Deaf. I had the happy
privilege of meeting the young lady, her teacher and classmates two days before
Thanksgiving. She comes from a family of nine children in South Bend, and she is
completely deaf. Medicaid paid for a set of glasses at the beginning of the
year, but they disappeared after a trip home. These glasses will remain at the
school, and we bought the most rugged and damage-resistant ones we could,
complete with a warranty (kids being kids). Veronika nearly failed her ISTEP
test this fall simply because she was unable to see the questions. That
situation is now remedied, thanks to you. The Angel Fund was contacted by her
teacher, Linda Groogan, several weeks ago, and the biggest stumbling block was
trying to pry information from the parents - which she was never able to do. We
stressed to Linda the benefits of the Fund, namely that we can act when others
won't - including the parents.
Brothers, the sheer joy of this child over a simple gift like this was
gratifying in the extreme, and we have made more new friends for our Lodge. We
all have a standing invitation to visit the Deaf School, and even have lunch
with these great kids.
We received another call, from School 84, concerning a young girl who comes to
school every day in ragged and torn clothes, who just needed a simple pair of
pants. Stories like this break your heart to think that three $10 pairs of pants
can make a world of difference to a child's self-esteem and outlook on life. And
a social worker at the Damien Center in Indianapolis has called about us perhaps
helping children infected with the AIDS virus. It has taken a while for the word
to get out, but your donations are starting to make a difference. Teachers and
administrators can't believe that we ask for no interviews, hold no drawn out
appropriations meetings or demand multi-page documentation. They call and we ask
"How much and when do you need it?"
Thanks to everyone who has donated this year. The Grand Lodge of Indiana let us
add an additional line on your dues statement this year to make it simple for
you to donate to the Broad Ripple Masonic Angel Fund. Please consider helping us
with this important mission.
Fraternally,
Chris Hodapp, PM - Secretary & Trustee
Broad Ripple Lodge #643
www.broadripplelodge.org
hodapp@aol.com