In a little over one year, the Masonic Volunteer Program has grown to 179 masonic and OES volunteers around the eastern, central and southeastern part of the state. The volunteers come from 9 districts and include spouses of masons as well as Ohio Eastern Stars. November of 2018 saw the addition of the 12th District MVP Committee under the chairmanship of Don Stivers of Middleport Lodge #363. On January 12, 2019 the newest MVP Committee was trained in East Liverpool in the 24th masonic district under the Chairmanship of Joseph Wicker of Jenkins Lodge #471. The volunteers are proactive, constantly seeking to find those masons, widows and family members who may be in need of services or assistance. 64% of the new referrals in SE Ohio in 2018 have come from our volunteers. They are the “eyes and ears” of the Resource Center Liaisons out in the fraternity. The Committees have a wide range of skills and talents and have used those abilities to aid our Resource Center clients. The volunteers make friendly calls and visits to clients in their homes, hospitals and long term care centers.
Over the holiday season many of the MVP Committees, the 23rd District for example, participated in projects such as taking fruit baskets to widows and shut-ins, delivering candy or small gifts and sending cards. Grocery cards were also taken to some of the seniors and widows in the 17th District by their Committee members. Volunteers can be as active as they choose. They may help with transportation, run errands, or even sit with a client so that a caregiver can get groceries or see their doctor. They can provide information to the Resource Center so their local liaisons can then reach out to offer assistance or advocacy.
Our volunteers are one of the main referral sources for our Widows Program by providing the names of recent widows and widowers, so that a packet of helpful information can be mailed to them. Our Resource Center Liaisons then follow up with a phone call to offer support and assistance to those who may need help. A newsletter is also mailed twice a year to those on our list of widow(er)s. If your Lodge would like to participate, you may send your widows list to Becky Cason, rcason@ohiomasonichome.org, who coordinates the Widows Program. The MVPs work in conjunction with the Widows Program to maintain that fraternal connection to their deceased Brothers’ widows and families.
The Masonic Volunteer Program is now branching out to other parts of the state with a Committee training to be held on Saturday, March 16th at noon, at Browning Masonic Community in Waterville. We welcome those from the 11th and surrounding districts to come out to hear about how the program can assist your Lodge. There will be a presentation and a training for those who want to get started. Please contact DeAnna Kinney at 740-262-1974 or dkinney@ohiomasonichome.org for further information about this training or to set up a training in your area. We appreciate the efforts of all our MVPs in whatever manner they have chosen to serve.
12th District MVP Committee (Right Photo)
Steve Carson, Chairman Don Stivers, Joyce Stewart, Gary Coleman, Jordan Pickens, Guy Bing. Not pictured: Eber Pickens.
24th District MVP Committee (Left Photo)
(Front Row-left to right) Timothy Palmer, Dennis Strickler, Dave Rainsberger.
(Second Row-left to right) Jason Short,
Joseph Wicker: 24th district MVP Committee Chairman.
Not pictured: Manuel Fardis, Daniel Cain and Larry Cline
