In the local community: womens refuge 2023, £3500!!!

Rainham 3079 Lodges’ IPM Wbro Jack Meleady came into masonry 10 yrs ago following in his Grandfather (initiated 1960 & into Rainham 1994) & fathers (WBro Roy Meleady PPGSwdB pz & present secretary of Rainham with 42 yrs service), and his older brother, Rainhams’ assistant secretary (WBro Mathew Meleady PPAGDC, 16yrs service) footsteps. 3 generations of Meleadys. Bro Jack decided that his Ladies festival & masters list monies raised last year would be best directed to a local charity, so who better to make use of funds than our own Thurrock (changing pathways), known to many as womens’ refuge. Jack had always thought the changing pathways an extremely worthy cause helping women/mothers and children escape abuse to rebuild their lives and confidence, giving advice, support and residence if needed with 6 local refuges across Essex supporting 46 families. Changing Pathways also has a Community service in Essex that supports up to 200 clients. So Rainham Lodge members had no hesitation in agreeing to support Jacks request, and Rainhams charity steward applied to Province for match funding and was successful! On attending a recent charity stewards training session at the Cross Keys masonic centre, Rainhams Bro Karl met charity steward WBro Mark Gillam of Stanford le hope Lodge. His lodge meeting like Rainham at Orsett Masonic hall, Rainham meeting 4 Saturdays at Orsett; 3rd Sat Jan, 1st Sat March, 2nd Sat June, 1st Sat Nov, Ladies festival usually Oct/Nov). And in light discussion found that Stanford le hope had also raised an amount of money for the womens refuge and they too had applied successfully for ‘match funding’, so a plan was forming and on Friday 31st March Bro’s Karl and Mark accompanied by WBro Tony Adams Rainhams Organist (& newly suggested ‘Pathways’ assistant mentor) with 18 yrs service and with such loyalty to Rainham that has led to him tatooing the Rainham 3079 shield on his leg thigh! Something other Rainham brothers are slow to follow as yet, and Bro Anil Shastri, Rainhams SW with 7 yrs service all met with Zoe; Operations Manager for Thurrock & EDAPP Health Services to understand more of the needs of the centre & hand over funding in total of £3500, well done that collaboration between Rainham & Stanford le Hope Lodges and match funding!