SANCTUS Homeless Charity and Old Chelmsfordian Freemasons: A Heartwarming Partnership.

On 6th December, 2024, the Old Chelmsfordian Lodge presented a generous Cheque of £3030 to SANCTUS, a Chelmsford-based charity dedicated to supporting the homeless and vulnerable individuals in Essex. The cheque was handed over during a festive charity event organised by SANCTUS, which saw brethren, partners and friends come together for an evening of warmth and camaraderie.

The event featured raffles and auctions, which raised additional funds for the charity, furthering their mission to provide essential support and services to those in need. Attendees enjoyed a delightful evening, celebrating the spirit of giving and community support.

The Cheque was presented to the SANCTUS management team, Toni and Chris, by Worshipful Master W.Bro. Paul Yarwood, Secretary W.Bro. Rob Bates, and Charity Steward W.Bro. Kevin Thompson.

SANCTUS, known for its unwavering commitment to helping the homeless and vulnerable, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Old Chelmsfordian Lodge for their continued support and generosity. The partnership between the two organizations exemplifies the power of community and the impact of collective efforts in making a difference in people’s lives.

2025

Charity Steward Volunteers at Sanctus

Wednesday 22nd January 2025, saw OC Charity Steward W. Bro Kevin Thompson begin his first day

as a volunteer at Sanctus supporting the needy and homeless. Kevin says: “The end of 2024 was a catharsis for me. A close friend’s partner had a nasty medical diagnosis, which caused me to pause and reflect and alter my perspective on life. The year had seen my own medical issues, around which I had been working for an avaricious employer who had not been settling my invoices. I was fortunate enough to have Christmas abroad with my family and decided it was time for me to give something back and stop focusing on material values”,

Sanctus is W. Bro Paul Yarwood’s chosen charity as WM and Kevin as Charity Steward and W. Bro Rob Bates as Secretary have worked closely to enhance and develop their charitable support on behalf of OC and W. Bro Paul. Several OC charitable events are in the early planning stage.

Kevin added: “I decided to allocate each Wednesday every week to Sanctus, to volunteer for any task. In doing so I am directly assisting the service users and enhancing my knowledge as to the financial assistance we can give to Sanctus moving forwards”.

Kevin spent his first day in the kitchen, peeling and preparing a sack of carrots as a base for freshly cooked Lasagne, followed by salad preparation with a dressing concocted by Kevin, frying potatoes, followed by plating up over 55 meals to serve for lunch. Kevin then assisted in the washing up of crockery etc, moving frozen goods to enable freezer defrosting and then sweeping down the dining area, once the service users had left for the day. Another 25 people also attended Sanctus for other food and support – which was described by Toni our liaison at Sanctus as: ‘a fairly quiet day!’

Kevin is very much looking forward to next Wednesday and actively encourages any members of OC with spare time on their hands to jump on board.