For Worshipful Brother Terry Yarbrough, joining Masonry grew out of a desire for something more – something that connected him to his community and allowed him to give back.
“I really wasn’t doing anything but work and sleep,” Terry said. “I felt that there just had to be something else out there.”
Encouraged by friends who were already members of the Fraternity, Terry joined Poplar Bluff Lodge No. 209 in 2011. Over the years, that commitment has grown into a life of service.
Brother Terry has served as Worshipful Master of Poplar Bluff, Grand Chaplain for the Grand Lodge of Missouri, and as a member of the Masonic Home of Missouri Board of Directors. He now serves as the Lodge’s Masonic Home Representative. Together, these experiences have shaped his understanding of the powerful impact Lodges and Chapters can have when they invest in their communities.
That impact was recently felt at Shady Grove State School with the help of the Masonic Home’s Creating-A-Partnership (CAP) Program.
Supporting Shady Grove State School
Several years ago, Poplar Bluff Lodge learned about Shady Grove State School through a personal connection shared by one of the Lodge’s Past Masters, who had long hoped to support the school. When the opportunity presented itself in 2023, the Lodge stepped forward to help.
Shady Grove is a state-operated school serving students with significant special needs from across the region. The school educates students up to age 21 and, according to Brother Terry, draws families from within a two-and-a-half-hour radius of Poplar Bluff — a wide reach with limited resources.
The Lodge’s partnership with Shady Grove began by providing clothing and coats for students. In 2024, Poplar Bluff expanded its support, donating clothing, coats, shoes, and sensory items to help students feel comfortable and supported in their learning environment.
By 2025, school leaders shared a new goal: creating an outdoor learning center — an alternative classroom designed to better support students whose learning styles benefit from hands-on, flexible instruction. While the vision for the space was clear, funding remained a challenge.
Building on years of support, Poplar Bluff Lodge stepped forward once again — this time to help turn that vision into reality.
Father-Daughter Ball
The Lodge’s ability to respond to Shady Grove’s request was made possible through one of the Lodge’s most well-loved community events – the annual Father-Daughter Ball.
Hosted each October, the Ball began in 2013 as a modest event with around 100 attendees. Over the years, it has grown into a Poplar Bluff tradition, welcoming more than 600 fathers and daughters annually.
Attendees of the Father-Daughter Ball are encouraged to dress to impress, with daughters wearing everything from sundresses to ballgowns and fathers sporting attire ranging from jeans and button-downs to full tuxedos.
Months of planning go into the event with Lodge members and community volunteers hand-crafting decorations, organizing a silent auction, coordinating carriage rides, and setting up a small jewelry store for guests to enjoy.
To promote the event, the Lodge maintains an active Facebook page sharing updates on ticket sales, event preparation, and behind-the-scenes moments – helping build excitement while keeping the community connected to the Lodge’s charitable mission.
All proceeds from the Father-Daughter Ball are dedicated to charity. Funds support the Lodge’s youth groups, including DeMolay and Rainbow Girls, contribute to the Shrine Hospital Transportation Fund, and provide the resources needed for CAP projects like the one at Shady Grove.
“CAP is a wonderful program that has allowed us to donate to these schools,” Brother Terry said. “There are a lot of kids who need assistance.”
As the Ball has grown, so has the Lodge’s reach, allowing Poplar Bluff to expand its charitable support through CAP to multiple schools throughout the region.
Amplifying Impact Through CAP
Through CAP, Poplar Bluff Lodge donated $750 toward Shady Grove’s outdoor learning center. With CAP’s 2:1 matching funds, that contribution became $2,250, significantly increasing the impact of the Lodge’s gift.
Despite being a state-operated school, Shady Grove faces funding limitations that make projects like this difficult to accomplish without outside support. For school staff, the Lodge’s involvement was both unexpected and deeply appreciated.
“They were absolutely beside themselves with appreciation,” Terry said.
Pictured is an example of an outdoor classroom at Oak Grove School in Poplar Bluff, MO.
Getting Involved
For Brother Terry and the members of Poplar Bluff Lodge, CAP has become a powerful tool for turning community support into tangible action.
“Why not participate in CAP?” Terry said. “You can reach out and bless the community around you.”
By identifying needs and bringing the community together through events like the Father-Daughter Ball, Poplar Bluff continues to create meaningful opportunities. Through its partnership with the Masonic Home’s Creating-A-Partnership Program, the Lodge helps students learn, grow, and thrive in spaces designed with them in mind.
Reach out to the Masonic Home today with your CAP project ideas and make a difference in your community.
