There are three great tenets of a Freemason’s profession – Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. Community involvement puts the tenets into action – and we participate in community service because we’re part of the community.
In 2022 the Lodge has two public charitable activities – helping those in need who are experiencing food insecurity through support of the Emergency Food Network. Our second charitable activity is to help encourage and motivate school children to read through our Bikes for Books program.
Because we’re interested in the betterment of our local neighborhood, we’re a member of the South Tacoma Business District. Through feedback, communication, and collaboration with our neighbors, we partner to make it a better, safer, more prosperous area.
The Bikes for Books program, as supported by Steilacoom Lodge, donates bicycles to local elementary schools and libraries. Young readers earn entries into raffles for the bikes by meeting and exceeding literacy challenge goals. The Lodge funds the activity through donations by its members and by fundraising – primarily by providing coffee and cookies at local rest areas (sometimes we’re the guys in the little booth).
In addition to our public charitable efforts we also support organizations that belong to the ‘Masonic Family’ – especially our Youth Groups. These groups include the Order of DeMolay (for young men ages 12-21), Job’s Daughters International (for young ladies ages 10-20 who are related to a Master Mason), and the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (for young ladies ages 10-20).
Many of our members are also members of other concordant bodies – such as the Order of the Eastern Star, the Order of Amaranth, the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (the Shriners), the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, and the York Rite Bodies. Each of those organizations supports a charitable cause (such as the Shrine Hospitals, the Templar Eye Foundation, or the Early Life Speech and Language program for speech disorder treatment).
Individual brothers who are passionate about a cause can find others willing to also take up the charge. For example we’ve been able to help out at the Tacoma Rescue Mission’s Adams Square Family Center, helping to provide food and serve those most in need. We’ve also supported the Santa’s Biggest Helper program to assist families during the holiday season.