After the passing of her husband, Nancy Wilson began looking for a way to reconnect with her community. Wanting to stay active and involved, she found the Order of the Eastern Star (O.E.S.).
She joined Theodosia Chapter #130, O.E.S., seeking connection and opportunities to serve, and was later elected Worthy Matron.
“I wanted to get out and meet people,” Nancy said. “I thought, I need to get out in the community, be of service, and meet other people. My dad was a Master Mason, so I thought, I’ll try that.”
What began as a desire to meet others and give back soon grew into a deeper commitment to service in a small rural community where needs are great, and resources are limited.
Carrying Forward a Tradition of Giving
After Theodosia Chapter #130 consolidated with Gainesville Chapter #432 in September of 2025, Sister Nancy noticed something was missing – holiday outreach, a tradition long rooted in O.E.S.’s commitment to service.
“Theodosia Chapter had always made a charitable donation to someone at Christmas, and Gainesville [Chapter] had not,” Nancy said.
After being elected Worthy Matron of Gainesville Chapter, Sister Nancy knew that giving back during the holiday season was something her new Chapter could do.
Discovering CAP
Gainesville Chapter learned about the Creating-A-Partnership (CAP) Program from longtime participant WB Bobby Grisham of Robert Burns Lodge No. 496, who encouraged the Chapter to explore the program for themselves.
Brother Bobby has long supported his local school’s Buddy Backpack Program, raising funds through peanut sales at local ball games to help provide food for children to take home over the weekend.
After learning about the CAP Program, it inspired Nancy to think even bigger. Rather than limiting charitable efforts to the holidays, she saw an opportunity for Gainesville Chapter to expand its impact throughout the year.
As first-time CAP participants, the Chapter quickly realized the program could help turn small fundraising efforts into meaningful community support – an important opportunity in Ozark County, where even the smallest contributions can make a difference.
“The hardest part was just learning the process,” Nancy said. “Once we saw what was required, it really wasn’t difficult.”
The Chapter worked with the Masonic Home to gather the necessary documentation. With guidance from Tisha Woodard, Partnership Programs Coordinator, the process moved smoothly.
“Tisha was awesome,” Nancy said. “She walked us through everything we needed.”
Sister Nancy also appreciated the online application, which made submitting information quick and easy.
Once the Chapter understood how CAP worked, members felt confident using the program again in the future.
Choosing a Cause Close to Home
When it came time to choose an organization to support, Gainesville Chapter took their decision seriously. After exploring different possibilities, they decided to support Options Pregnancy Center, inspired by Sister Nancy’s personal experience through a friend. She had seen firsthand how the center’s services met real needs in the community.
Options Pregnancy Center serves families throughout Ozark County, often supporting individuals who travel 15-20 miles to access care. The nonprofit provides pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting classes for parents, along with supplies for their children, such as diapers, baby clothes, bassinets, formula, and other necessities.
Without the center’s support, Nancy’s friend would have struggled to meet her three children’s basic needs, such as formula and diapers.
“They don’t just give things away,” Nancy said. “They require parenting classes, and they’ve done a lot for the community because there’s such a need.”
Seeing that impact firsthand reinforced Sister Nancy and her Chapter’s decision to help.
Power of the Collective
Gainesville Chapter raised $200 by hosting no-bake bake sales. With the Masonic Home’s match through CAP, that amount grew to $600. These funds were donated to Options Pregnancy Center to purchase diapers, car seats, wipes, and formula for expectant parents and their soon-to-be children.
“We are a charitable organization,” Sister Nancy said. “We are not supposed to sit on the money and just watch it – we’re supposed to use it.”
For Gainesville Chapter, the impact was clear.
“What Options Pregnancy Center can do with $600 is a lot more than what we could have done with it as individuals going out and trying to buy things to donate,” Nancy said.
Through CAP, the Chapter learned that even small donations can be multiplied into meaningful support for their community.
Looking Ahead
The Chapter, energized by their first experience with CAP, is already planning future projects, including support for local schools through Buddy Backpack Programs. They are committed to using their time and energy to serve others and continue to support real needs throughout their community and the county.
Gainesville Chapter hopes its experience will inspire other Lodges and Chapters to participate in CAP. They discovered that CAP is not just for big projects – it is also a powerful tool for smaller donations that can make a lasting difference when matched and multiplied by the Masonic Home.
