When Missouri lawmakers approved a new school safety law requiring public and charter schools to establish cardiac emergency response plans beginning with the 2026–27 school year, they emphasized a critical truth: during a cardiac emergency, every minute counts. The law calls for evidence-based planning, staff training, and appropriate access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) — lifesaving care that can begin before First Responders arrive.
For many schools, however, turning these expectations into reality creates a financial challenge. Purchasing additional AEDs and maintaining proper training requires funding beyond many school’s budgets, leading districts to look to community partners and donations to help offset the cost.
Recognizing this need, several Masonic Lodges across Missouri have stepped in to help bridge the gap, turning awareness into meaningful action. Through fundraising efforts, community partnerships, and local outreach, they are helping schools strengthen their cardiac emergency preparedness. Lodges such as Rolla Lodge No. 213 and Osage Lodge No. 303 see the state’s new requirements not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to support their communities by helping protect students, staff, and families when every second matters.
Rolla Lodge No. 213
Rolla Lodge No. 213 has long had a steady presence in its community, guided by a commitment to service, partnership, and responding to real needs as they arise. With strong ties to local schools and organizations, the Lodge exemplifies how Masonry extends beyond the lodge hall — through listening, collaboration, and action.
The Lodge has participated in the Masonic Home of Missouri’s Creating-A-Partnership (CAP) Program for the past seven years and has built an ongoing relationship with the Newburg R-2 School District, thanks to a connection through a Lodge Brother.
Last February, Rolla Lodge presented Newburg R-2 with $1,530 to help purchase clothing for students. This past year, the district returned with another request — funding to purchase an additional AED, along with vision and hearing screening equipment.
“It seemed kind of like a no-brainer,” said Worshipful Master Greg Edwards. “It was a bigger amount than we typically take on for Creating-A-Partnership, and I mean, it’s literally a lifesaving thing.”
Pancake Day
When Brother Greg was elected Worshipful Master, one of his goals was to help the Lodge re-engage with the community. During a meeting with Lodge officers, while discussing their project for Newburg R-2, the idea surfaced to bring back a longtime fundraiser — Pancake Day.
The Lodge worked to make the event a success, gathering supplies and spreading the word. Community members and local businesses stepped up, donating dairy products, syrup, coffee, and even a large quantity of sausage patties from the local McDonald’s.
Marketing the event became the next focus. Tickets were priced at $7 in advance and $10 at the door, with children five and under eating free. Promotion included word of mouth, flyers, digital outreach, local media coverage, and radio mentions. The Lodge even collaborated with a local radio station, providing tickets to raffle off on air in the weeks leading up to the fundraiser.
“I’m joking, but I kind of felt like we had half the town of Newburg in the Lodge,” Brother Greg said. “It’s an exaggeration, but it was a lot of people. I probably haven’t had the basement that full in years — it was kind of exciting.”
All proceeds from Pancake Day went directly to the Newburg R-2 School District nurse’s office. The Lodge raised $1,757, which was matched through the Masonic Home’s CAP Program, bringing the total to $5,271 for lifesaving and student health equipment.
Rolla Lodge No. 213 members presented the Newburg School District with a $5,271 CAP check for the purchase of an AED on January 15, 2026.
Masonry in the Community
Stepping into a leadership role at Rolla Lodge No. 213 reinforced Greg’s desire to reignite Lodge activity and expand community involvement. Building relationships with local schools helps raise awareness not only of what Masons do, but also of the mission of the Masonic Home of Missouri.
“We really want to have that connection with the schools, so they know when they have a need, they can come to us,” Greg said. “We could potentially fill it or find another way to help it get filled.”
That commitment extends beyond one fundraiser. After Pancake Day, the Lodge used leftover supplies to host a First Responders Appreciation Breakfast.
“Since everything was donated, the following weekend we actually had a first responder day,” Brother Greg said. “Police, fire, ambulance, EMTs either came to the Lodge, or we delivered meals throughout the greater area.”
As Rolla Lodge No. 213 continues to increase its visibility, Greg notes that many people are surprised to learn the Masons are active in their community at all.
“The big thing is just seeing how much it helps spread community awareness,” he said. “It leads to more people being interested in joining and wanting to know more about the Lodge and what we do, and that’s always really cool.”
Osage Lodge No. 303
Service, dedication, and a commitment to community have long defined Osage Lodge No. 303, and those values are reflected clearly in the work of Brother Martin Eador.
Serving as the Lodge’s Senior Warden and Masonic Home Representative, Brother Martin plays a vital role in connecting his Lodge, the Masonic Home, and the surrounding communities they serve. His journey into Freemasonry began years before he officially joined, sparked by a growing curiosity and the positive stories he often heard when asking others about the Fraternity.
Although interested, he knew joining required a personal connection. That opportunity came one day when he saw a Facebook post from a Brother, who was serving as Osage Lodge’s Masonic Home Representative at the time. From that moment, Martin’s path into the Fraternity took shape.
Osage Lodge itself has a long-standing relationship with the Masonic Home, participating in its Partnership Programs for more than fifteen years and consistently working to make a meaningful impact.
Osage Lodge has remained especially dedicated to supporting five local schools in its area. As part of his role, Brother Martin understood that being a Masonic Home Representative meant more than just educating his Lodge Brothers — it also meant being present in the community and learning firsthand how the Masonic Home could help others.
By reaching out to school administrators and building strong relationships, Martin was able to better understand their needs and identify ways the Lodge could assist.
Life Saving Device
Last December, Osage Lodge submitted four CAP applications, one of which came from Northeast Vernon County R-I High School requesting an AED. The need was uncovered during a conversation with Christy Jones, the Superintendent for Northeast Vernon Co. R-I, as Martin regularly checks in with schools at the start of each school year.
As he explained, “I try to explain to them, you know, we have all different options to choose from, and sometimes our schools are like, well, we’ve reached this point of getting clothing and things like that and there’s other ideas we have,” and it was during one of those discussions that Christy shared the need to purchase additional AEDs.
After learning more about the importance of AEDs and the recent changes in Missouri law, Martin knew this was a project he and his Lodge had to take on.
“That was their biggest driver [the AEDS] and we were like, oh absolutely, that’s something we definitely want to be able to help with,” he said.
Brother Martin emphasized that the effort goes beyond just one community, saying, “It takes every single person, not just in Nevada, but in Columbia, Saint Louis, wherever we’re getting our help from to do it,” and noted that AEDs are something people don’t often think about until a tragedy happens.
Reflecting on the families affected by such losses, he shared how unsettling it is to think about sending a child to school and not having them come home, and how powerful it feels to know that providing an AED could change that outcome.
“To turn around and say, hey, they did not have an AED close and [we were] to be able to do that, that’s a pretty big impact,” Martin said, adding that while helping with things like clothing and playground equipment matters, knowing they may have helped save a life makes the work feel especially meaningful.
Raising the funds
To support these efforts, Osage Lodge hosts an annual golf tournament each summer, which serves as the cornerstone fundraiser for its Creating-A-Partnership initiatives. The event not only raises critical funds, but also brings together members of the Lodge and the broader community around a shared commitment to education and youth development.
Brother Martin shared that last year’s tournament attracted many sponsors from surrounding communities, including Joplin and Kansas City. Local businesses, family-owned farms, and individual supporters all rallied behind the Lodge’s mission, demonstrating strong regional support for programs that directly benefit children and schools in the area.
Through one such partnership with Northeast Vernon County R-I High School, the Lodge raised $1,336.67. When those funds were invested through the Masonic Home’s CAP Program, they were matched and amplified, resulting in a total contribution of $3,410 to the school — significantly increasing the project’s overall impact to purchase more AEDs.
Working Hand in Hand
As Masonic Home Representative, Brother Martin sees his role as a bridge between the Lodge, the Masonic Home, and those in need. Over the years, that partnership has produced lasting results. “We’ve been able to help that school in Shell City with Chromebooks for the past couple of years,” he shared, explaining that the school rotates devices as they break.
When the school asked if they could submit another request, his answer was immediate: “Absolutely, you can put that request in with all your rest.” Martin noted that many people are unaware of available resources until someone takes the time to explain them, which is why personal outreach is so important.
He described the relationship between the Lodge and the Masonic Home as “almost just like a hand in hand,” with both working together on everything from school projects to Honor Flights and assisting members facing serious illnesses to receive financial assistance.
While some hesitate to ask for help, Martin emphasized that the Masonic Home steps in “with no hesitation,” offering support and matching funds whenever possible. He also praised the staff’s constant availability, noting that no question is ever too small.
Reflecting on the example set by his predecessor, who took the role seriously and was formally recognized for his dedication as the Masonic Home Rep of the Year, Martin said he felt honored to carry on that responsibility.
For him, moments like seeing children celebrate new playground equipment or receive essential items such as clothes, shoes, and toiletries make all the effort worthwhile. As he put it simply, “Anytime you give from the heart, you always feel great.”
Brothers from Osage Lodge No. 303 presented CAP checks to Shell City and Walker schools, supporting the purchase of new Chromebooks for Shell City and additional AEDs for Walker.
As Missouri schools move forward with these new safety expectations, the work of Lodges such as Rolla No. 213 and Osage No. 303 highlights the power of community partnership through the Masonic Home of Missouri’s Creating-A-Partnership (CAP) Program.
By pairing local fundraising with CAP matching funds, these Lodges have turned identified needs into real solutions — helping schools obtain AEDs, clothing, and other essential resources. Through collaboration with the Masonic Home, each dollar raised has a greater impact, strengthening both school preparedness and community support.
At a time when readiness can make all the difference, this effort reflects Masonry’s long-standing commitment to service, compassion, and building safer communities for students and families across Missouri.
