Freemasons across England and Wales have raised more than £1million to support those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the lockdown preventing Lodges from meeting and holding charitable collections, Freemasons have used technology to keep raising money to help the national response.
Online and text donations have been pouring into the Freemasons’ COVID-19 Community Fund from members up-and-down the country, including here on the Isle of Wight.
The £500,000 raised from individual Freemasons and their Lodges is being matched by the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF), the fraternity’s charity, bringing the total to more than £1million.
The amount could exceed £2million as donations continue to flood in.
Freemasons in the Province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight have also been raising money themselves and donating directly to charities and good causes.
Jon Whitaker, who recently good over as the head of the Freemasons in Hampshire and Isle of Wight, is a long-standing senior St John Ambulance volunteer and an NHS COVID-19 responder. He said:
“This is a wonderful amount raised by Freemasons across the country.
Article continues below this advertisement “And I know that across the province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight our members have been donating to this fundraising effort and they have also raised large sums for specific charities and good causes within their own communities.”
Dr David Staples, CEO of the United Grand Lodge of England, said:
“Once again Freemasons are making a major contribution in response to a national crisis.
“The million pounds already raised will be added to our significant contribution to the fight against Covid-19, including the provision of vital PPE to key workers, tablets to the sick or elderly in hospitals and food to the most vulnerable. I’m sure Freemasons will keep giving to our fund so we can keep providing vital support.”
