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This weekend many will be enjoying the activities that signal the beginning of summer. It is also a weekend to honor all of those who have sacrificed their lives upholding the idea of democracy, freedom for all people. Take sometime to visit honor all of those individuals. For those who have served, thank you! Preserving and living the ideals of our democracy is challenging as the awareness of what freedom for all really means. We need to cherish this ideal. Democracy takes all of us working together.

My Brothers:

Each year, a "Christmas in July" toy drive is held at Evergreen Lodge in Riverside; always in mid-July. The toys are collected for delivery to the Shriners’ medical center in Pasadena. It will come as no surprise that the event did not happen this July. However, a team of people is putting together an event in December. This will simply be a toy collection at Evergreen Lodge, for the same purpose. There will be no meal, no party, no Santa, and no elves – other than the volunteers who decide to dress up as elves. The drop off will probably take place outside and/or under the front covered patio, permitting social distancing. Only volunteers will be in the building, sanitizing and organizing the donations, then packing them in boxes for the trip to Pasadena.

Naturally, the organizers need assistance, particularly in (1) getting toys and (2) getting the word out. As for toys, the organizers are looking for new toys. Batteries should be provided for toys that require them, so that the toy will be usable immediately once it is given to a child. NO STUFFED ANIMALS ARE TO BE INCLUDED WITH THIS TOY DRIVE.

It is my request that each of the members of Temescal Palms Masonic Lodge (1) get the word out to their friends and family, and (2) prepare to participate by contributing a toy or two.

The toy collection is set for Saturday, December 12, 2020, from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Fraternally,

John G. Dickman, Mastet