Essex Mark Meals on Wheels
Sunday Lunch Update
The Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother Terence D. Sheern is pleased to announce that the Trustees of the Mark Benevolent Fund have agreed to a significant extension and increase in the funding for the Province's Sunday Lunch "Meals on Wheels" service.
This additional funding, in conjunction with some extra support from our own Essex Mark Welfare Fund will also allow our Province to provide meals for the residents of Hamilton Court, in South Woodham Ferrers and will commence on Sunday the 3rd of May.
This is yet another example of Mark Master Masons supporting our local communities with monies raised from all your worthy charitable efforts.
The PGM extends his appreciation and thanks to all those concerned with the Meals on Wheels service, to the Mark Benevolent Fund, and to Essex Mark Men for their continued generosity and support of this service and to the band of volunteer drivers.
This additional funding, in conjunction with some extra support from our own Essex Mark Welfare Fund will also allow our Province to provide meals for the residents of Hamilton Court, in South Woodham Ferrers and will commence on Sunday the 3rd of May.
This is yet another example of Mark Master Masons supporting our local communities with monies raised from all your worthy charitable efforts.
The PGM extends his appreciation and thanks to all those concerned with the Meals on Wheels service, to the Mark Benevolent Fund, and to Essex Mark Men for their continued generosity and support of this service and to the band of volunteer drivers.
From the Provincial Grand Secretary
Brethren, we have now been informed that orders can be taken with immediate effect and there is now the facility to book for
the whole 13 weeks with just one email/text, no further contact will be needed unless your circumstances change and you no longer require the meal.
Due to the tremendous support of our Members to act as Volunteers to deliver the meals, we can now start earlier than expected and we will endeavour to commence as soon as possible.
Please encourage your Members and Widows to put in their orders in as soon as possible so that we can arrange the first meal with the caterers. Also, remember that not only are we helping the Vulnerable we are also supporting our caterers with this enterprise.
Yours sincerely and fraternally,
Paul Busby
Provincial Grand Secretary
Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Essex
From the Provincial Grand Master
Brethren, I am pleased to announce we have been successful in a bid to the MBF to provide a two-course pre cooked Sunday lunch to our most vulnerable members free of charge! Three of our masonic centres (Orsett, Chingford & Brightlingsea) have agreed to prepare and cook up to 50 two course Sunday lunches each. The menu will be on a rotating basis and will not change.
The menus are:-
Menu week 1
Chicken breast, sausage and sage stuffing
Boulangere potatoes
Peas and carrots
Cauliflower cheese
Spotted dick and custard
Menu week 2
Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, gravy
Roast potatoes
Butter glazed carrots
Savoy Cabbage
Bramley apple crumble and custard
Menu week 3
Chicken, leek and mushroom pie
Herb roasted new potatoes
Creamed swede
Carrots and peas
Steam pudding and custard
These meals will be packed into suitable (disposable) containers for transportation and re heating in a microwave when delivered
The areas covered by the masonic centres are:
Orsett Masonic Centre, will cater for those living in the general areas of Thurrock, Southend, Basildon, Rayleigh & Wickford, Upminster, Hornchurch and Romford
Chingford Masonic Centre, will cater for those living in the general areas of Chingford, Loughton, Brentwood, Harlow, Chelmsford and Braintree
Brightlingsea Masonic Centre, will cater for those living in the general area of anything North of and including Witham.
If your home area does not appear on the lists don’t worry we will do our best to get a meal to you.
Please be aware we cannot take any request for alterations or alternatives, neither can we unfortunately cater for vegetarians, vegans or those with food intolerances at this time. The meals will be supplied on an “as is basis”.
The meals will be collected from the three centres and delivered to you by our team of volunteers. A List of the ingredients and microwaving instructions will be included in the pack you receive. The meal prepared will be the same at each of the centres.
Who can apply?
If you are an Essex Mark Master Mason, live within the Province and fit one or more of the following criteria you are eligible. Please remember that during this uncertain time we recognise that members may fall in or out of the criteria over the meals on wheels period,
so please only order when you fit the criteria.
a) The member is in the High-Risk or At Risk category and they have no members of the family living at the home that are able to shop, cook or support them.
b) Widowed and unable to cook fresh meals.
c) Over 70yrs of age and have no other family living at home who are able to shop, cook or support them.
e) You are self-isolating due to having contracted the virus and unable to prepare and cook a fresh meal and have no one at home to
cook for you.
f) The widow of an Essex Mark Man and unable to cook fresh meals.
If you fit into the criteria and have a partner or other dependant person living with you, you may order a meal for them as well. The maximum order for any household is 4, however we expect the usual number of meals per household to be 1 or 2. Remember, we are constrained by a budget and want to spread this facility as wide as possible. Whether you fit into the criteria or not will be on a self-policing trust basis.
When does it start?
The scheme will start on Sunday the 3rd May and will last 13 weeks, unless the government changes the current isolation guidelines.
How do I order?
Please email your name, address and contact telephone number, to mbfmeals@britishmasons.uk and state how many meals are required. If you do not have an email address please send a text message with the above details to 07802475268.
All Orders must be placed by 6pm on the Wednesday before the delivery Sunday.
If there are any problems with your delivery or they become sold out we will notify you as soon as possible before the Sunday delivery. Deliveries will be made during the afternoon, dependent on where you live in comparison to the local pick up point,
How can I help?
We are in need of volunteers who are able to get to one of the three centres to collect from and deliver the meals on a Sunday morning. Collections will start at 11am. If you can spare a couple of hours please email the above email address with your name and the masonic centre you would be prepared to attend and deliver meals to our vulnerable members. Lets prove we are the friendly degree and support each other during these difficult times. We would be very pleased to hear from motorcyclists who have the necessary means to carry the meals!
If you can help you will be sent details of where we would like you to deliver to. On the Sunday morning you would collect your meals (they are all the same so no need for any special markings, just collect the correct number of carrier bags) and deliver them.
Summary
This initiative is a real coup for Essex Mark and probably the only one like it in the country. Another real example of where your charity monies go so let’s make it work. Like any initiative there will no doubt be a few teething problems along the way so please bear with us, remember we are all volunteers trying our best to help others
Keep safe and thank you,
Terry
Brethren, we have now been informed that orders can be taken with immediate effect and there is now the facility to book for
the whole 13 weeks with just one email/text, no further contact will be needed unless your circumstances change and you no longer require the meal.
Due to the tremendous support of our Members to act as Volunteers to deliver the meals, we can now start earlier than expected and we will endeavour to commence as soon as possible.
Please encourage your Members and Widows to put in their orders in as soon as possible so that we can arrange the first meal with the caterers. Also, remember that not only are we helping the Vulnerable we are also supporting our caterers with this enterprise.
- Texting– 07802 475268
- Emailing – mbfmeals@britishmasons.uk
Yours sincerely and fraternally,
Paul Busby
Provincial Grand Secretary
Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Essex
From the Provincial Grand Master
Brethren, I am pleased to announce we have been successful in a bid to the MBF to provide a two-course pre cooked Sunday lunch to our most vulnerable members free of charge! Three of our masonic centres (Orsett, Chingford & Brightlingsea) have agreed to prepare and cook up to 50 two course Sunday lunches each. The menu will be on a rotating basis and will not change.
The menus are:-
Menu week 1
Chicken breast, sausage and sage stuffing
Boulangere potatoes
Peas and carrots
Cauliflower cheese
Spotted dick and custard
Menu week 2
Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, gravy
Roast potatoes
Butter glazed carrots
Savoy Cabbage
Bramley apple crumble and custard
Menu week 3
Chicken, leek and mushroom pie
Herb roasted new potatoes
Creamed swede
Carrots and peas
Steam pudding and custard
These meals will be packed into suitable (disposable) containers for transportation and re heating in a microwave when delivered
The areas covered by the masonic centres are:
Orsett Masonic Centre, will cater for those living in the general areas of Thurrock, Southend, Basildon, Rayleigh & Wickford, Upminster, Hornchurch and Romford
Chingford Masonic Centre, will cater for those living in the general areas of Chingford, Loughton, Brentwood, Harlow, Chelmsford and Braintree
Brightlingsea Masonic Centre, will cater for those living in the general area of anything North of and including Witham.
If your home area does not appear on the lists don’t worry we will do our best to get a meal to you.
Please be aware we cannot take any request for alterations or alternatives, neither can we unfortunately cater for vegetarians, vegans or those with food intolerances at this time. The meals will be supplied on an “as is basis”.
The meals will be collected from the three centres and delivered to you by our team of volunteers. A List of the ingredients and microwaving instructions will be included in the pack you receive. The meal prepared will be the same at each of the centres.
Who can apply?
If you are an Essex Mark Master Mason, live within the Province and fit one or more of the following criteria you are eligible. Please remember that during this uncertain time we recognise that members may fall in or out of the criteria over the meals on wheels period,
so please only order when you fit the criteria.
a) The member is in the High-Risk or At Risk category and they have no members of the family living at the home that are able to shop, cook or support them.
b) Widowed and unable to cook fresh meals.
c) Over 70yrs of age and have no other family living at home who are able to shop, cook or support them.
e) You are self-isolating due to having contracted the virus and unable to prepare and cook a fresh meal and have no one at home to
cook for you.
f) The widow of an Essex Mark Man and unable to cook fresh meals.
If you fit into the criteria and have a partner or other dependant person living with you, you may order a meal for them as well. The maximum order for any household is 4, however we expect the usual number of meals per household to be 1 or 2. Remember, we are constrained by a budget and want to spread this facility as wide as possible. Whether you fit into the criteria or not will be on a self-policing trust basis.
When does it start?
The scheme will start on Sunday the 3rd May and will last 13 weeks, unless the government changes the current isolation guidelines.
How do I order?
Please email your name, address and contact telephone number, to mbfmeals@britishmasons.uk and state how many meals are required. If you do not have an email address please send a text message with the above details to 07802475268.
All Orders must be placed by 6pm on the Wednesday before the delivery Sunday.
If there are any problems with your delivery or they become sold out we will notify you as soon as possible before the Sunday delivery. Deliveries will be made during the afternoon, dependent on where you live in comparison to the local pick up point,
How can I help?
We are in need of volunteers who are able to get to one of the three centres to collect from and deliver the meals on a Sunday morning. Collections will start at 11am. If you can spare a couple of hours please email the above email address with your name and the masonic centre you would be prepared to attend and deliver meals to our vulnerable members. Lets prove we are the friendly degree and support each other during these difficult times. We would be very pleased to hear from motorcyclists who have the necessary means to carry the meals!
If you can help you will be sent details of where we would like you to deliver to. On the Sunday morning you would collect your meals (they are all the same so no need for any special markings, just collect the correct number of carrier bags) and deliver them.
Summary
This initiative is a real coup for Essex Mark and probably the only one like it in the country. Another real example of where your charity monies go so let’s make it work. Like any initiative there will no doubt be a few teething problems along the way so please bear with us, remember we are all volunteers trying our best to help others
Keep safe and thank you,
Terry
