Worshipful Brother Bill Cape still remembers the small but meaningful gesture that arrived each Christmas after his father passed away.
Members of his father’s Masonic Lodge would bring his mother a box of candy – a tradition that left a lasting impression.
“The Masonic Lodge would give my mother, his widow, a box of candy every Christmas, and I remember that was a tradition every year,” Bill said.
Years later, that same sense of compassion and community would inspire Bill to join Freemasonry.
Originally raised in Michigan, Brother Bill later returned to Missouri and joined Lebanon Lodge No. 77.
Now, more than 25 years later, that sense of support shapes how he gives back to his community.
Supporting Young Readers
Long before he became a Mason, Bill developed a love of reading. As a child, he spent time at his local library, reading James Bond novels and getting to know the librarian, Mrs. Jennings, who encouraged his love of books.
Today, Brother Bill and his wife are regular visitors to their local library in Crawford County.
“We don’t have any young children ourselves,” Bill said. “Anytime we go to the library, we see the kids’ corner with their bean bag chairs and all their books.”
Watching those moments unfold reminded Bill of his own childhood and sparked an idea.
After following the library’s programs and events online, Brother Bill saw an opportunity for Lebanon Lodge to get involved. Through the Masonic Home of Missouri’s Creating-A-Partnership (CAP) Program, the Lodge chose to support the Crawford County Library District’s youth programming, helping fund books, events, and activities for local children.
“We’ve got a couple of terrific librarians in our local branch that host events for the kids like story times and different activities where they can come in and participate,” Bill said.
Raising the Funds
Lebanon Lodge hosted pancake and sausage breakfasts, along with ham and bean dinners to rally community support for their project.
“We’ve got a group in the community that supports us very nicely and regularly,” Brother Bill said.
To spread the word, the Lodge used Facebook, local newspaper ads, and relationships they built through previous CAP projects that had already connected them with families and organizations in the area.
Together, Lebanon Lodge raised $500, which was matched 2:1 through the Masonic Home’s CAP Program, resulting in a total of $1,500 to support the Crawford County Library District’s youth programs.
“Kids books are a lot more pricey than when I was a kid,” Bill said. “The money was certainly very helpful.”
Continuing the Impact
The library project is just one example of Lebanon Lodge’s ongoing commitment to supporting children in their community.
Through the CAP program, the Lodge has supported a variety of local initiatives, providing coats, hats, and gloves for elementary school students, contributing to a nonprofit child care center, and helping fund a Back-to-School Bash hosted by a local mission store.
At the annual Back-to-School Bash, hundreds of children receive backpacks filled with school supplies to give them a strong start to the new school year.
Each year, the Lodge looks for ways they can support the Back-to-School Bash. Not only do they provide financial assistance to help purchase backpacks and school supplies, members of Lebanon Lodge also volunteer their time, handing out supplies and connecting with families.
“The kids are very appreciative and very grateful,” Brother Bill said.
Encouraging Others
For Bill, giving back is about showing up, doing what you can, and creating meaningful moments for others – just like others did for him when he was a kid.
“The community helped me when I was a kid,” Bill said. “This is just a little bit of payback.”
That spirit of serving others continues to guide Lebanon Lodge as they look for new ways to support their community.
“We do what we can with what we have,” Brother Bill said. “I encourage others to do the same.”
Through partnerships with the Masonic Home of Missouri and the continued support of their community, Lebanon Lodge is helping create opportunities for children to learn and grow. If your Lodge or Chapter is interested in participating in CAP to make a difference in your community, reach out today or visit our website to learn more.
