Provincial Grand Lodge of Valencia

A welcome early Christmas Present for the ‘Make a Smile’ Charity

On Friday, 18th November, Bernard Wilson, secretary of The Masonic Home of Valencia Association, presented a cheque for 2000 Euros to the ‘Make A Smile’ Charity. This money was largely raised by the charity shop in Moraira which does a splendid job in raising money for good causes. This is one of those worthy causes and is an organization for mentally challenged children based at a home in Relleu, just inland from Benidorm. Using existing land and equipment the ‘Make A Smile’ charity has created a self sufficient farm that provides occupational therapy for the 24 youngsters based there. This not only teaches them self reliance but also provides useful knowledge which may help them to get jobs and better integrate into society – always a great aim!

The children grow vegetables, and harvest the olives from more than 1000 olive trees. These are later turned into olive oil and sold. They also produce more than 750 eggs a week from around 220 chickens, all of which are also then sold to the general public.

This donation  from The Association will help to buy flannelette sheets and pyjamas for the youngsters to help them keep warm over the winter as, unfortunately, the home cannot afford to keep the heat on all night in their bedrooms. It will also be used to take all the children for a special Christmas treat to enable them to go somewhere like Alicante to at least see the lights.

The picture shows the presentation by Bernard to Barbara and Dennis Carrier, leaders of the recycling team, at the El Cid restaurant who run weekly auctions in Benidoleig who work continuously by taking in unwanted furniture and bric a brac, which they mend, fix up and recycle to be sold at local auctions. Great work, whereby they recycle unwanted goods, preventing them from going into rubbish skips and landfill sites and, at the same time, raise money for a very worthwhile cause.

If you would like to help this very worthwhile cause or seek further information regarding the Masonic Home of Valencia, or even if you are just interested in finding out a little more about Freemasonry, please contact me at the following email address when I will be glad to answer all your questions.

prensa@glpvalencia.com

WBro William Turney   Press Officer
Provincial Grand Lodge of Valencia.

Dama de Elche Lodge 163 Present thee cheques

On the 20^th October 2016 at the Debra Butterfly Children’s Charity Shop, the Past Master, John Swithenbank and Charity Steward Trevor Bagnall with their Ladies, presented cheques totalling 1665 euros raised from various social events held by the Brethren and their Ladies from The Dama de Elche Lodge during 2015/2016.

(Pic 1) Mary Chambers who represented The Butterfly Children Charity, DEBRA said this donation would go to fund the charity’s Outreach Project which allows DEBRA nurses to visit patients in their own home and help with daily treatments, providing advice, support and respite. Mary thanked Dama de Elche Masonic Lodge for choosing to help the charity with their generous donation of 750 euros which was greatly received.

(Pic 2 ) A further cheque of 750 euros from the Lodge was presented to Annette English for The Elche

Children’s Care Home towards providing heating oil for this coming winter.

Annette then presented a framed Certificate which says: Elche Children’s Care Home; wishes to thank:

the Past Master John Swithenbank and Members of the Dama de Elche 163 Masonic Lodge for the donations of 2350 Euros over the last 3years for the purchase of Heating Oil. Keeping the children warm and providinghot water.Thank you all for the kindness and love you have shown to our children “Helping us to Help”.

(Pic 3 ) Another Certificate was then presented by Annette to the Ladies of the Brethren of the Lodge for their donation of 165 euros to The  Elche Children’s  Home to help purchase gifts for the children.

Spanish Freemasons celebrate in Benidorm.

On Saturday, 15^th October, local Freemasons of the Province of Valencia held their annual Ladies Night at the Hotel Grand Bali in Benidorm. This was hosted by the Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother Norman Wheatley and his lovely wife Anne, who were greeted by more than two hundred Masons with their wives and guests. The evening was a chance for Masons to relax after a hard year of work and fundraising and, in particular, to thank their wives for all their help and support throughout the year.

Guests arrived at 1845 for a champagne and canape reception which was followed by an excellent four course meal at 1930. Every Lady present was presented with a Ladies Night gift to further thank them for their efforts. After dinner guests were entertained by the music and singing of ‘Rio’ and many danced the night away. A Grand Charity Raffle was held and raised the magnificent sum of one thousand three hundred and twenty-five euros. As all prizes were donated by Masons, every centimo will go to a worthy local charity. This evening was a great success and was, I am sure, enjoyed by everyone present.

WBro William Turney Press Officer

Provincial Grand Lodge of Valencia