As Freemasons, we take oaths to uphold certain values and obligations to one another. None may be as impactful as our obligation to aid our Brothers and their families in their greatest times of need. That aid may come as an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, a hand to help pull oneself back up once more.
There are times, however, that the aid needed is more substantial. Be it a storm-damaged home, an injury that robs a family of their income, or bills piled so high that a Brother's dues are the las things on their minds, we as Freemasons are called to assist.
To that end, the Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M of the State of Illinois created the Illinois Masonic Outreach Services to assist Lodge's in fulfilling this vital service for our Brethren. You can find more information here.
Freemasonry calls us to aid and support the generations that follow us. In doing so, our charity survives long past when we ourselves unable to do so any longer.
The Illinois Masonic Children's Assistance Program provides a number of services by partnering with local Lodges to directly assist children and young adult scholarship, encourage vocational training, aid families seeking specialized services for children with unique challenges, and .
Such services include scholarship and vocational training grant programs, youth organization support, assistance for children with learning or developmental disabilities, and the Bikes for Books reading program.
More information for this charity is available here.
The Illinois Masonic Student Assistance Program helps school districts provide the best academic programs possible for their students.
Through IMSAP, school districts gain access to invaluable resources, including training and development programs for educators and staff, programs teaching practical life skills to students, and substance abuse programming for schools and their local communities.
Additionally, what began as a smaller project in 1983 has grown into the Illinois Masonic Academic Bowl, hosting over 330 participating schools annually.
Plenty of more information can be found here.
The Illinois Masonic Family Identification Program, administrated by the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois, works with local Lodges to host events were families can generate packets containing all of the information necessary for when a loved one is missing, that officials will deem critical to a successful recovery. Not just for children, but for any family member, from the first hairs on their head to their last, the IMFID program aims to ensure the best possible outcome from any lost loved one, free of charge.
More information regarding the program can be found here .
Coins for Children is a charitable giving program that aims to assist a local child or group of children. Drawn entirely from donations and never from general Lodge funds, Coins for Children offers a matching grant, representing Freemasonry's enduring commitment to both help those in need and our community as a whole.
For more information on this program, please contact us directly or the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois directly.