Changing things up from previous years, Dashiell Masonic Lodge #238 F&AM is offering a family-friendly dinner in the coming week.
The Lodge previously decided on having a pancake breakfast every Saturday — over the months — during the last 30 years to raise funds for various community projects.
This time around, Dashiell Lodge is hosting an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner on Friday, April 28, at their main facility from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
“We have found that it is tough to get folks up so early on a Saturday every few months to eat with us, much less cook with us, so we want to try a different approach,” Lodge member Thomas Davis said. “Now, instead of having to drag the family to breakfast to support the Lodge, folks can bring them out to a nice home cooked meal on a Friday night.”
The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children. Proceeds from the event go to various projects taking place by the group.
Along with different regular programs, a portion of the proceeds will go toward the Lodge implementing TNCHIP (Tennessee Child Identification Program).
According to the TNCHIP Website, the program is designed to give Tennessee families “a little more peace of mind against the increasing problem of missing and abducted children.”
The program uses a kit filled with surveys, photos, fingerprints and other bits of information to provide to authorities when needed. Microchips are not used in this program.
Tennessee Freemasons are bringing the program to communities throughout the state with the Grand Lodge of Tennessee F&AM serving as the sole sponsor. Families would be able to take part in the program free of charge.
The program works with five major components:
• Photographs
• Fingerprints
• Children Information and Emergency Contacts
• DNA Samples
• Dental Record Information
Children between the ages of infancy to 21 years old can participate in the program. Parents or guardians fill out the Information Collection Sheet with info about their child while TNCHIP and Grand Lodge will not retain the information concerning the child. The packets go back home with the families.
Visit TNCHIP.org to learn more about the program.