Masons provide Christmas baskets for needy

Democrat photo / David A. Wilson

Among the volunteers packaging food baskets for the California Masonic Lodge #183 A.F. & A.M. are, from left, Stuart Inglish, Reagan Liebi, Hannah Hill, Lauren Hill, Lacey Lucus and Pam Liebi. The basket were presented to needy families in the area.
Democrat photo / David A. Wilson Among the volunteers packaging food baskets for the California Masonic Lodge #183 A.F. & A.M. are, from left, Stuart Inglish, Reagan Liebi, Hannah Hill, Lauren Hill, Lacey Lucus and Pam Liebi. The basket were presented to needy families in the area.

On Saturday, Dec. 20, members of California Masonic Lodge #183 A.F. &A.M. put together food baskets for several needy families in the Moniteau County area.

This is the 27th consecutive year the Lodge has performed this service. This year, small toys for the children of the families involved are included. The food baskets are actually a number of boxes and bags containing a substantial amount of staple foods, not merely fruit and candy, but includes everything from various meats to milk, juice, cereal and more.

The food and toys supplied to the families are made possible by gifts of money, food and toys by the members of the Mason Lodge, other individuals, Wal-Mart and Nic Nac Restaurant, which donated half a dozen gift cards for a meal for a family.

The baskets were presented to families in California, Clarksburg, Jamestown, Russellville and Tipton.

Next to a belief in Deity, charity lies at the foundation of Freemasonry and this event is one that the Lodge looks forward to each and every year.