Red Wing Lodge #8 Helps United Way Packing for the Weekend

Charity has always been one of the fundamental principles of Freemasonry, and at Red Wing Lodge #8 we are proud of our 167 years of helping those in need. Our members make an important contribution every year by giving both their time and money to make a real difference to the community of Red Wing and the surrounding area.

On Sunday October 22, 2023, members of Red Wing Lodge #8 volunteered their services to assist the United Way of Goodhue and Wabasha County with a fundraiser for “Packing for The Weekend” held at the Southeastern Minnesota Technical College.

Packing For the Weekend” began at the Sunnyside School in Red Wing in January 2011. Today the program covers seven schools in Goodhue, and Wabasha counties. The program provides a backpack containing meals of approx. four to five pounds of nutritious nonperishable meals for school age children who are experiencing food insecurity at home. It is a program to make sure that no kids go hungry. To date the program has provided 8477 backpacks of food. Currently 200 back packs a week are distributed. 

For this year’s fundraiser, the participants could donate $30.00 and enjoy gourmet soups and breads made from local restaurants and chose an artesian handmade bowl to take home with them.

The 109 handmade bowls were made by three local artists applying their own creative skills. The bowls were created at the Red Wing Arts Clay and Creative Center. Of note, the making of a bowl is a three-day process by the artists.  

The empty bowl that was purchased now sits in my cupboard.  Seeing reminds of my time overseas when I saw many people extend their hand holding an empty bowl which expressed their need and hunger. Hunger exists everywhere today, in every community and every city. Helping this charity was a very worthwhile thing for Red Wing Lodge, in my opinion.

The members of Red Wing Lodge along with friends or family assisted with the serving of the soup, bussed tables, and general clean up. It was a lot of fun, and laughs. Most importantly it was wonderful again to see Red Wing Lodge come together with other members of the community to help their neighbors. 

 

Brother Ben Manning and his wife Kat provided wonderful music for the event.

I would also like to thank Nicolle Mechelke the Executive Director of the United Way of Goodhue, Wabasha and Pierce County for the delightful and informative conversation which provided the facts for this article.

Red Wing Lodge helps to Fight Child Hunger