On Feb. 5, Pauldingville Lodge No. 11 AF&AM in Wright City held its annual Mardis Gras banquet. In addition to enjoying an evening of Masonic fellowship (along with homemade jambalaya, red beans and rice and crawfish etouffee), the group also presented Turning Point with a check for $3,600.Turning Point provides emergency shelter and supportive services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Warren County and the surrounding area.In the fall of 2014, Pauldingville Lodge became aware of the fact that the shelter, which has the capacity to house 20 women and their children who are victims of domestic violence, only had one working bathroom. One of the core beliefs of Freemasonry is charity and this was one cause that definitely needed the group’s help.The Wright City lodge is also very fortunate to have several members who are involved in the building trades such as an architect, a general contractor, master plumber and electrician, an HVAC technician, a contractor supply sales representative and even a retired high school shop teacher.Once the committee was formed to take on this project, they went to area hardware, plumbing and building supply companies and were able to get almost everything donated or supplied at a reduced rate, including a new washer and dryer. In addition to the actual building supplies and fixtures, they also raised $1,800 in cash donations to cover those items that were not supplied free of charge.That money was matched by the Masonic Home of Missouri’s Creating-A-Partnership (CAP) program. Of the many services they offer, one of them is to provide financial assistance to programs that benefit children, whether they have a Masonic affiliation or not. Construction has already begun and should be complete by early spring. When completed, the shelter will have not one, but two additional bathrooms, new shower and bath facilities and a brand new laundry facility. In addition to that, the balance of the money will be used to take care of long overdue maintenance and repairs to the facility.When presented with the check, Turning Point Executive Director Ellen Reed expressed her gratitude for the lodge’s generosity. And equally as important, she was also grateful that the workmen from the lodge were providing a positive and friendly presence to the children.Plans for the future relationship between the lodge and Turning Point include taking the children fishing or maybe just to a movie under the supervision of Turning Point staff.Pauldingville Lodge No. 11 AF&AM in Wright City last week presented Turning Point a donation for $3,600. Pictured, from left, are RWB Bill Gatewood, Br. Kevin Gerloff (project architect), Br. Ken Dingerson (project coordinator), Ellen Reed, Turning Point executive director, Br. Josh Frillman, Br. Terry Fleetwood and RWB Conley DePriest. Submitted photo.
