With a longstanding tradition of being active in the community, Dashiell Lodge #298 Free and Accepted Masons isn’t looking to slow down anytime soon.
The Lodge is organizing a spaghetti dinner on Friday, July 26, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at their building right off Holston Avenue near the Carter County Health Department.
“The last dinner was very successful,” said Lodge member Thomas Davis. “We appreciate the support of our community in our ongoing efforts to help children in need in Carter County, and beyond.”
The dinner will feature all-you-can-eat spaghetti and meat sauce with the traditional fixings, plus takeout opportunities. The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children.
Each event always serves as a time of fellowship with the community, Davis said, adding proceeds from the event will serve a variety of projects the Lodge is working to accomplish.
“The money will benefit a number of our ongoing programs, including the Tennessee CHIP program,” Davis added.
TNCHIP (Tennessee Child Identification Program), sponsored by the Grand Lodge of Tennessee F&AM, was established to raise awareness about the risk or exploitation children face in society.
Davis added the program has seen success in the state and the local lodge is looking to implement the program in the area with the debut coming at the ninth annual Back to School Bash hosted by Back to School Ministries at Harmony Free Will Baptist next week.
Free of charge, the program consists of five different components: photographs, fingerprints, child information and emergency contacts, DNA samples (fingerprints) and dental record information.
The goal of the program is to make sure parents have the proper documentation needed in case of a worst case scenario, Davis said. TNCHIP nor the Lodge keep the information. The information goes back to the family to have for any potential situation.
Child between the age of infancy to 21 years can participate in the program.
Following its debut at the Back to School Bash, Davis added the Lodge would look at offering different events in the community to give parents the chance to participate.