Recently, on Friday 20th May, local Freemason’s Lodge, Javea 40, held its “Fun Charity Evening” styled on the famous Ascot race at the Costa Nova Masonic Centre at Casa de la Pizza in Javea.

More than sixty racegoers, from the Lodge and invited guests, many of them complete novices, had sponsored races, horses, and even pigs, in what was a really enjoyable evening. This gathering also had the more serious purpose of raising much needed funds on behalf of local charity Todos Juntos Javea, for a young Ukrainian refugee at a Javea school who requires urgent funds to assess his level of autism.

There were prizes for the best Ladies Hat and Gentleman’s “Leary Shirt” as well as the auctioning of terrific gifts donated from very generous local businesses.

Nine hundred and eighty-seven euros was raised during the evening,which was quickly topped up to an even one thousand euros. This was sufficient to fund the autism assessment in full, with a little money remaining to go to other local good causes. An excellent evening’s work by all concerned. Well done and a huge thank you to all those who gave of their valuable time and money.

On Sunday, May 8^th, Freemasons of local Lodge, San Juan de Espana, held a charity golf match to raise money for local charities. In beautiful weather the Masons enjoyed a very pleasant day of golf and succeeded in raising over one hundred euros which will be donated to a local charity in the near future. Several competitions were held as can be seen in the following photographs.

The first photo shows the overall winning team. The second shows the winner of the under eighteens competition. The third shows the Worshipful Master and his wife presenting the prize to the overall winner, Jason Fowler, the fourth, Jason Fowler and the fifth, all players dining together after the conclusion of the match. A great afternoon, enjoyed by all, with the added bonus of making a donation to charity.

Local Freemason’s Lodges, Old Tower Number 49 and Caledonia Number 68 recently held  a tea party event in Villa Martin to raise funds for DEBRA, Piel de Mariposa, the butterfly children’s charity.

Great fun was had by more than sixty brethren and their invited guests while helping a very worthy cause. Over nine hundred euros were raised which will be used to purchase a computer and camera so the nurses can photograph the wounds of the children, to better allow them to make more accurate diagnoses in order to offer an even greater standard of care.

The charity provides care for children with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) who suffer excruciatingly painful skin blisters which typically affect both hands and feet.

On Saturday, 12th March, Santa Faz Lodge No 48, once again held their annual Sponsored Beach Walk and Barbecue. As is the tradition it is always a bright and sunny day for this event and over forty members and guests ably lead by The International Club (TIC) Committee Member Brian Wakely  set off for a 5 kilometre circular walk starting from TIC to and along San Juan Playa and return. The Team of ‘Michelin Star’ Masonic Chefs then prepared and presented an excellent and varied barbecue enjoyed by over 80 guests. Splendid Salads and Desserts were prepared by the Ladies of the Lodge and TIC.

Entertainer Stevie Spit (I kid you not) provided fantastic and varied musical entertainment and the whole event was a tremendous success culminating in funds raised for the Elche Children´s Home of one thousand, five hundred and forty-eight euros. A great effort!

The Worshipful Master of Santa Faz Lodge, Barry Hovell and his wife Gill, thanked everyone for their support, in particular The President of TIC Kim Baker and her team for hosting the event and especially all those who sponsored the walkers. A special mention to Brian Wakely, Jean Green and Mary Millard who each raised over one hundred euros of Sponsorship.

Watch this space for further fundraising events hosted by Santa Faz Lodge No 48 and The International Club (TIC) El Campello.

In the Benidorm – Altea – Calpe – Moraira region, a group of volunteers are distributing hot meals to numerous homeless people, some of whom who are living under bridges or in empty houses. The initiative came from two homeless people who managed to change their lives for the better and who now want to contribute something back to society. As, from their own experience, they know where to find these homeless people, they are asking volunteers to cook for anywhere from sixty to eighty needy people at a time.

Recently, food has been cooked by our Freemason friends from the Dutch/Belgian Lodge of Leukopolis, who made sausage and mash with vegetables and gravy!  A whopping eighty-three meals were made by the Masons, and all with a cake and a drink of course.

The lovely Tanya, Natasha and Jon Smith took care of the Calpe – Benidorm route, handing out  the much needed meals and other necessary items.

Local Brethren of Leukopolis Lodge No 85  have already volunteered to cook twice for these people. It brings the Brethren of the Lodge together in providing a much needed service and to support a worthy charity, so please keep supporting us , by liking and sharing our Facebook pages, by becoming a member of our growing community or even better, become a much needed volunteer!! The charity organisation can be contacted through their facebook page, project4all.  Alternatively, email sec@glpvalencia.com

The Worshipful Master of local Freemason’s Lodge, Las Salinas, Keith Carter presented a much needed hospital style bed to “Help at Home” General Secretary Susie Brice on Wednesday 31st March at their premises in Cabo Roig. President Patricia Muirhead thanked the Freemasons most sincerely for their support, adding that the new bed would be put to good use right away.

Local Freemason’s Lodge, Santa Faz, recently held their “Santa Faz Beach Walk and Barbecue” which had been scheduled for Saturday and would have been delayed into next week had it not, fortunately, been decided to postpone it by one day to Sunday 21^st March 2021.

This annual charity event, held under strict observance of current health guidelines, at The International Club, El Campello, was blessed with warm, dry and thankfully wind free weather.  The huge and varied amount food, like the assembled company, was excellent.  Aided and abetted by Lin (salads and jacket potatoes), Jean (cakes) and WBro Ivan (kartofel salat).  Particular thanks go to Gill Hovell (President), Bro Barry Hovell SW (Treasurer) and the Committee of The International Club for all their help with the complex logistics.

Despite the many current restrictions and, sadly, with a greatly reduced number of participants, the amount raised still exceeded all expectations.  The charity raffle, sponsored walkers, donations and contributions from Brethren’s charity pots, was rounded up to a total of seven hundred euros.  An exceptional amount, especially under the circumstances, was raised for the Worshipful Master’s charity which, for this year, is MABS, and which will be presented at a later date.  MABS Cancer Support Fundación’s commitment in Spain can be summed up in this short sentence: “To care, comfort and counsel people affected by cancer”. A very worthwhile cause and one supported by many Freemasons.

Recently, the Brethren of Arenal Deportiva Lodge made a much-needed donation of €250 from the Lodge charity fund to the local organisation, HELP, of Denia and Moraira, to help sustain many needy families who are suffering difficulties, many caused by the Covid pandemic and particularly for those unable to work.

This donation was used to help thirty-five local families buy food and essential items and who, in total, numbered one hundred and four people including fourteen babies. The money was used to buy necessary shopping such as nappies and food which included, bags of chicken pieces, pork, minced beef, frankfurters, frozen fish, milk, powdered milk for babies, salad, tomatoes, cucumbers, red peppers, biscuits and much more.

The Lodge was thanked most warmly by Ms Candida Wright, the president of the Denia and Moraira HELP organisation.

In response to the request for help from a Valencian voluntary organisation, el Amigos de la Calle, the Freemasons of Valencia were quick to respond.

The Valencian Provincial Charity Fund contributed five hundred euros.

White River Lodge 153 and Mark Masons 1979 contributed over five hundred and fifty euros. Regeneration Lodge 132 contributed two hundred and fifty euros.

Through Masons affiliated to Rotary International, the Rotary E-Club of Latin America contributed a further two hundred euros

The total donated was over one thousand five hundred euros and together with the volunteers of the NGO we made a purchase of food in the wholesale supermarket Family Cash, at special prices.

The Amigos de la Calle (CIF G98305378) is a certified NGO of the Valencian community in charge of helping those who have nothing, and sleep on the streets of Valencia. With the arrival of the pandemic, the situation has worsened, with more than five hundred homeless people who are cared for by the organization and around one hundred more who are in a precarious situation.

On weekdays emergency deliveries are made to family homes, and on Sundays eight routes are made throughout the city, distributing food, warm clothes, blankets. sleeping bags and other items. The routes have specific stops in parks and squares, and in shelters such as bank tellers.

This huge group of homeless people is mostly men both Spanish and foreign born. Meanwhile the families requesting support are originally from Eastern countries, South America, with some Romanian and African as well.

The State provides some help to the homeless and the families but, given the magnitude of the situation with the pandemic, it is just not enough. However, the NGO does not receive state aid and is reliant on charitable donations.

Amigos de la Calle (CIF G98305378) es una ONG certificada de la ciudad de Valencia que se ocupa de ayudar a los que nada tienen, y duermen en las calles de esta ciudad. Con la llegada de la pandemia, la situación se ha agravado, existiendo en estos momentos 400 personas sin techo que son ayudadas por la Asociación, más 200 en sus hogares sin nada para comer.

En días de semana se hacen entregas de emergencia a domicilios de familias, y los domingos se hacen 8 rutas por toda la ciudad, repartiendo alimentos, ropa (se da ropa limpia y se cambia la ropa sucia para traerla de nuevo en la siguiente distribución). Las rutas tienen paradas específicas en parques y plazas, y en refugios tales como cajeros de bancos.

El universo de personas es mayoritariamente de extranjeros de Ucrania y otros países del Este de Europa, sudamericanos que llegaron a España antes de la pandemia y han quedado atrapados sin poder retornar a sus países de origen, más algunos españoles y migrantes de la etnia gitana. La red de seguridad del estado es inexistente, la ONG se nutre de donaciones.

En estos días los almacenes de la ONG estaban vacíos, y ante el pedido de ayuda, los Hermanos Masones de Valencia salieron raudamente a responder.

El Fondo Provincial de Caridad aportó 500.00€

Las Logias White River 153 y Mark Masons 1979 aportaron 555.00€

La Logia Regeneración 132 aportó 250.00€

A través de Hermanos socios de Rotary International, el Rotary E-Club of Latinoamerica aportó 200.00€

El total donado fue de 1.505€ y junto con los voluntarios de la ONG realizamos una compra de alimentos en el supermercado mayorista Family Cash, a precios especiales.