By Brother Jim McGuigan
Brothers from nearly a dozen lodges across Southeastern Wisconsin partnered with the US Marines to donate toys and raise funds for Toys for Tots. The drive will make a difference for hundreds of kids and their families who might otherwise have not had a Christmas present this year.
Local Brothers enlisted local businesses as well. Three full boxes were donated by Tekra, LLC, the employer of one of the Hays Boys. Fleet Farm in Germantown, where a large majority of the toys were purchased, offered a 20% discount. This increased the impact even more so that more toys could be purchased. Pictured above, Brother Chris Villarreal, Master of Nathan Hale Lodge, and Brother Carl Cleppe of James M. Hays Lodge purchase toys at Fleet Farm.
Brother Karl Cleppe of James M. Hays Lodge (No. 331) in Milwaukee traveled to every lodge in D12 to challenge Brethren to rally together to contribute what they could. The winning lodge gets to display a traveling trophy created by Brother Cleppe for the next year as well as earning a meal catered and served by the Hays Boys for their next stated meeting.
The results are in and over $19,200 in toys and cash donations were contributed through a Herculean effort by Brothers who rallied together to accomplish this unprecedented donation.
Freemasons from South Shore Lodge (No. 3) took first place this year and have already requested the Hays Boys specialty — smoked brisket, made popular at their annual Shed Lodge.
By pulling together, Masons proved once again that we can accomplish much more together than as individuals. We are making a difference!
