Freemasonry in the Community

Whitstable’s Graveney Court and Graystone Lodges, along with Sittingbourne’s St. Michael’s Lodge of Instruction have joined forces with Whitstable and Herne Bay Lions in support of The Whitstable Women’s Institute to back the charity, Support Our Soldiers.

The ladies initially started filling Shoe Boxes with goodies, but soon became aware that Grab Bags were more in demand. When troops stationed in Afghanistan are injured and admitted to Kandahar Hospital, in order to treat them it is common practice to cut off their clothing to expose the wounds. Unlike other coalition troops, ours receive no provision from our Government for temporary clothing or other personal items such as washing tackle and writing materials. This is where the Grab Bags fill the gap by providing such basic and essential necessities to improve morale and preserve our troops’ dignity.

At the ladies’ regular meeting in November a presentation of the Shoe Boxes and Grab Bags collected so far was made to representatives of the Support Our Soldiers Gillingham Branch in the presence of Captain Stevie Rae of the 5th. Scots Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who are due to return to Afghanistan for another tour in October 2010.

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