Masonic Lodge raise Funds for Local Charities during Pandemic

The pandemic of 2020 has forced many local charities to redevelop their benevolence programs that faced the prospect of limited public gatherings and an unstable economy. Jephtha Masonic Lodge in Huntington has been giving back to the local community since its founding in 1860 and has able to remain charitable to those in need through wars, recessions, The Great Depression and now its second global pandemic since 1918.

Led by Benevolence Committee Chairman Bill Fenty Jr, the lodge faced these extreme challenges with fortitude and determination in these uncertain times.

A long-planned charity walk that Jephtha Lodge No. 494 F. & A. M. has participated in the past was reprogrammed into a virtual event that helped raise over $4400. The Sunrise Association Day Camps have been operating in several locations, including Wyandanch, since 2006. The mission of the camps is to provide children ages 3½ to 16 struggling with cancer and the difficult treatments with activity filled summers at outdoor day camps free of charge. The children's months of isolation are broken with a few weeks of sunshine and fun at the day camp, without rescheduling any medical treatments because the campers can stay at their own homes at night. The program also includes siblings to help the children with cancer be more comfortable and less lonely during their difficult treatments. With the regular Sunrise Walks cancelled due to the pandemic, Jephtha Lodge had to be creative to keep to the spirit of past outdoor fundraisers. On June 28, 45 brother masons and their families attended their own walk in Huntington Village.

The lodge followed the charity walk with a Back-to-School Drive in September where the members collected 11 backpacks, 15 bags and 3 boxes of supplies and $344 for families in need during the remote-learning challenges of the 2020-21 school year.

In the same week, the brotherhood supported Ride343, the New York City Fire Department's annual bike ride in commemoration of 9/11 and the 343 men and women of the NYC Fire Department who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. An annual event organized by Jephtha Past Master Greg Gatto of the FDNY, 2020’s charity bike ride was unfortunately canceled due to COVID, but the brothers of Jephtha, their families and friends helped keep its legacy alive by having their own private ride. Gatto is a member of the Ride343 Bicycle team that rides over 100 miles at the annual event from Ground Zero to the South Fork of Long Island to benefit U.S. Veterans. Dozens from the Jephtha family rode the 10-mile round trip from Jones Beach to Cedar Creek Park in Wantagh on September 12, raising $1142 through GoFundMe and independent donations, far exceeding their $300 goal.

On October 24th, the brothers of Jephtha Lodge, with assistance from friends and family, met to continue the work started over the summer to improve the historic Old Burial Hill Cemetery in Huntington. With help from the Town Historian Robert Hughes, the volunteers were able to make a significant impact on removing the thick vegetation and found additional headstones that were completely engulfed by the overgrowth.

In November, the brothers answered the call of those in need by assisting the Helping Hand Rescue Mission in Huntington Station. Because of the impact of COVID, helping Hand Rescue Mission was in need to support 800 families during the holiday season as hardships are even more pronounced in 2020 than in the past.

The Jephtha Lodge Benevolence Committee had originally set a goal of 3 bags of groceries and 15 coats, but was very pleasantly surprised when the donation tables were overflowing with 40 bags of groceries and 15 large bags of coats. The Holiday Food and Coat Drive was organized by Brothers James Visalli and Luke Loporto, who allowed the lodge to use their business establishments as fund raising drop off locations.

The holiday season fundraising did not stop there. The lodge coordinated with the U.S. Marines for the Toys for Totsdonation drive; an event usually kicked off at the annual Huntington Holiday Parade. Hundreds of people usually show up to watch the parade from the lodge building’s second floor location overlooking New York Avenue, kickstarting the annual drive. Over 120 toys were collected in time for the December 18 drop off with the USMC by Brother Chris Tomasino.

The lodge closed out the fundraising efforts of 2020 with the first project started. Net proceeds of the new book by Past Master Ron Seifried, Long Island Freemasons (Arcadia Publishing) exceeded $1500. Published in March 2020, most of the planned promotional events were cancelled, leading the author to think outside the box to raise funds. Our Benevolence Committee chairman coordinated with the Squires Club of the Knights of Columbus to provide a meal for the veterans of the Lighthouse group. A budget of about $500, using funds raised by the sale of W:. Ron Seifried's book was used to purchase enough meals to feed 30 veterans. We anticipate bringing more meals for our honorable veterans during the months of February and March.

The lodge plans to resurrect other charity fundraisers cancelled due to pandemic restrictions, including annual Diwali, Huntington Holiday Parade, Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s events after the economy opens back up. As Jephtha Lodge enters its 17th decade, the future of the Benevolence Committee is determined to stay on target for upcoming fundraisers, for one of the fastest growing Masonic lodges in New York.