Kirkcaldy Masonic lodge works to help some of town’s most vulnerable people

Members of Templehall Masonic Lodge Hall 1599 have been working tirelessly throughout lockdown to raise cash and to help feed some of the most vulnerable people in Kirkcaldy.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, members have, with help from other Masons across Fife, raised over £2500 to support local charities and families.

From food collections, meal making, and a Christmas party for kids in Kirkcaldy, they have pulled out all the stops to make sure no-one in their community is left wanting.

Willie Brown, sub master, said: “Since April last year we have raised £1000 for Maggie’s and Linton Lane Centre, and £500 for Fife Gingerbread, as well as providing over 150 meals weekly that we split between Linton Lane and Kirkcaldy North Primary School.

Willie Brown handing over a £500 cheque from Kirkcaldy Business Forum to Alistair Gibson.

“We have managed all of this due to the generosity of our members and other Masons across Fife.

“Last year we received quite a lot of donations of food, but that has slowed down now so any cash that is donated is put towards food packs and ingredients for making the meals.

“Myself and Ali Gibson, the lodge master, have been preparing the meals ourselves – we always try to make something that most people will enjoy, such as stovies or chicken curry.

“When we asked the kids at Kirkcaldy North Primary what they would like for us to make they wanted us to bring McDonald’s!

Willie added that everyone in the community is struggling, and that even people who work full-time are coming to the lodge for support.

“The pandemic is affecting everybody,” he added. “Even people who work are coming to us for help. It has been hard for us all, but it will get better, who would’ve thought that almost a year down the line it would still be the same.

“We were due to fly to Barbados this year to deliver £1500 of educational books to school children suffering from poverty, obviously the pandemic has put a stop to that so we have donated the books to kids in Kirkcaldy instead.”

If you would like to donate food or cash to the Masons, please contact: Alistair.gibson177@gmail.com