Members of Kahoka Chapter #40 present a check for their first CAP project to Clark Country R-1 Middle School. Picture was taken in front of the stage curtains their funds purchased.
Five years ago, Order of the Eastern Star Kahoka Chapter #40 participated in their first Creating-A-Partnership (CAP) project to replace a set of 40-year-old theater curtains at a local school. Since then, the members of the Kahoka Chapter have fully embraced the CAP Program. They’ve completed at least one project every year since 2022, raising $57,834.05 for local schools. With the Masonic Home’s 2:1 match, that means that they have been able to provide over $173,000 in support to the Clark County R-I School District.
For a rural county of around 6,500 residents, these CAP projects have made a tangible difference in the area and the community has responded with enthusiasm.
“When we first started, it was a whole new thing. People were just a little leery, because maybe this is too good to be true,” said Sister Barbara Clark, Worthy Matron of Kahoka Chapter #40. “With each project that we’ve done over the last few years, people realize that there really isn’t a downside. It helps the kids, it helps tax dollars, and it helps just the whole community.”
In addition to the curtains, projects have ranged from equipment for the middle school’s theater program, to music class essentials such as music stands and show choir materials, to safety improvements like replacing old playground equipment and installing a sun shade for a local pre-school.
Members of Kahoka Chapter #40 present a check to the Clark Country R-1 Middle School music department in 2025. Funds helped to purchase new music stands and chairs for the school band, as well as materials for show choir class.
Each year, Chapter members collectively discuss the community’s current needs and decide which projects to prioritize. Project ideas have originated from all over the community. Sometimes school staff have approached the Chapter’s leadership directly with a need, while other times the Chapter or other community members bring ideas to the group themselves.
One of the members leading the charge for CAP in Clark County is Right Worshipful Brother Shawn McAfee, Past Grand Patron and current Secretary of Kahoka Chapter #40. He believes that CAP allows local Chapters and Lodges to have a larger, more pronounced impact in the community.
“I believe Creating-A-Partnership is one of the best things the Masonic Home has ever done to be able to reach into the community … The outreach into the community, the positive into the community is priceless,” Brother Shawn said.
Kahoka Chapter #40’s second CAP project provided funds to replace aging playground equipment at Black Hawk Elementary. The equipment pictured above was installed in 2023.
Kahoka Chapter’s Latest Project
This year, the Kahoka Chapter has fulfilled two community requests through CAP. The first came directly from a teacher in their community.
Kellie Lemmon, the K-5 STEM teacher for both Black Hawk Elementary and Running Fox Elementary, reached out to request help raising funds for robotics kits to use in her classes. Kellie had previously submitted a request for the kits through the school district, but with a cost of between $2,000 and $8,000 per kit, the school district had not been able to find room in the budget.
“We’re a very small northeast school,” Kellie said. “We’re three hours from St. Louis or any city, so our kids don’t have as much opportunity to get their hands on technology besides their gaming devices. I just think it [the kits] will open their eyes to other jobs that are possibly going to be out there someday.”
Kahoka Chapter decided they could raise the necessary funds.
“In today’s society, your kids have to have a good science, technology, engineering, and math background. The STEM program pulls all those together, so they’re not each in a separate box,” Barbara said. “It helps with problem-solving skills, it helps develop teamwork — there are just so many positives to the STEM program that we have in our school that we felt it was something worth supporting.”
Barbara also explained that introducing these skills in elementary school was important for a student’s long-term success.
“We are interested in making sure that children from our community and school district have a great background, so that when they go on to middle school, on to high school, and later on to college, and that they haven’t fallen behind their peers.”
The Kahoka Chapter was able to reach their fundraising goal for the curriculum kits in a few short months, so the membership decided they could take on a second project for the year.
Brother Shawn heard through a community connection that the PTA at Running Fox Elementary sought to raise funds for classroom technology upgrades, so the Kahoka Chapter reached out and offered to help. Between a joint community yard sale, local donations, and a contribution made directly from the Kahoka Chapter’s CAP fund, the project was fully funded in no time and Running Fox will be able to install eight interactive SMART Boards for their classrooms.
“We can help get some things done that normally a small school district would not be able to do from their side,” Shawn said. “From our side, it gets us very positive advertising in the community of what Eastern Star or Freemasons do.”
Members of Kahoka Chapter #40 present the check for Creating-A-Partnership funds to Kelley Lemmon, teacher at Black Hawk Elementary. Funds purchased STEM curriculum kits for classroom use.
Connecting with the Community through Service
Both Brother Shawn and Sister Barbara believe the Chapter’s success in funding so many ambitious projects is built on two key factors: community support and an active Chapter membership.
The success of every project starts with getting the word out to the community at large. Two local newspapers, The Clark County Media and Hometown Journal, regularly feature the Kahoka Chapter’s efforts. From the beginning, both newspapers have printed stories at no cost to announce each new project — sometimes even as front-page stories — and will regularly print fundraising event details. Chapter members also call in to the local radio station (KMEM) to talk about their efforts during the community segments and community event calendar announcements.
“It really gets our name out in the public,” said Barbara. “So, they kind of see us as an integral part of the community, because we support community activities.”
According to Shawn, the response to these announcements has been very positive. Sometimes community members, even those without any direct connection to Masonry, will mail donations to the Chapter based entirely on the project being announced at the time.
Community members also have a strong, consistent presence the various fundraising meal services that the Chapter hosts.
Each September, the Chapter fundraises across multiple days of the Clark County Mule Festival by serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have also hosted a range of other meals including soup suppers, spaghetti dinners, bake sales, fish fries, and more throughout the year.
“The Chapter membership donates all of the supplies, so 100% of the proceeds go to towards the project,” Shawn said.
Events like their soup suppers really highlight how much the community rallies behind the Chapter’s efforts. A recent soup supper served around 120-150 people in a single evening. While the entry into each Chapter supper is based entirely on a free will donation, the generosity of those who attend make the events successful.
“We have such wonderful community support. It is just absolutely amazing,” Barbara said.
According to Brother Shawn, the fundraisers have also made a positive impact on the Chapter, because it gives members a way to remain active and give back, even if they aren’t able to attend regular meetings.
”It’s extremely rare for us to lose any member of our Chapter, because they want to be a part of something that’s making a difference,” Shawn said.
CAP Expands to St. Francisville Lodge
The Kahoka Chapter’s success inspired a local Lodge to work toward their own CAP project for the Clark County community.
St. Francisville Lodge No. 588 completed their first CAP project in June 2024. In just two years of participating in CAP, St. Francisville Lodge has provided $49,500 of impact toward the needs of children in Clark County. Their largest project helped build a walking path and outdoor classroom pavilion for Running Fox Elementary.
Kahoka Chapter and St. Francisville Lodge do whatever they can to support each other and make a difference in their shared community.
“We work really close with our Masonic Lodge,” said Shawn, a member of both Kahoka Chapter, as well as a past Worshipful Master of St. Francisville Lodge. “In fact, we have 126 members in Eastern Star, and we have over 30 gentlemen in it. That’s why we have a very strong Chapter and very strong Lodges because we work together, as it used to be.”
Advice for Other Lodges or Chapters Interested in CAP
When asked what advice they would give to other Lodges or Chapters interested in CAP, both Shawn and Barbara started by encouraging other organizations to just jump in and give CAP a try.
Sister Barbara also serves as Ruth for LaBelle Chapter #316 O.E.S., which completed their first CAP project in February 2024. She said that LaBelle Chapter started small, seeking only to raise to enough to purchase movable basketball hoops for Lewis County C-I for rainy-day recess activities.
“A smaller project has just as much impact as a big project does, especially on the kids,” said Barbara. “It has a huge impact on those individuals that are using it right then and there and in the future.”
Brother Shawn said his second piece of advice for organizations looking to try CAP would be to coordinate with other nearby Masonic organizations.
“Work with your local Lodge and local Eastern Star Chapter together, because it makes your Fraternity stronger when you have both organizations working together,” said Shawn. “Whether it’s Lodge initiated or Eastern Star initiated, it doesn’t matter who gets credit as long as we get it done.”
Both Shawn and Barbara say it is worth the effort.
“You can just do a couple of things and get your toes wet, or you can jump in to the ocean with both feet and make a big splash,” Barbara said. “That’s what we’re trying to do up here, is to make a big splash, so to speak.”
