A women’s refuge and an aged care facility in Gympie have each secured a COVID-19 Emergency Community Grant from Hand Heart Pocket the Charity of Freemasons Queensland, after being put forward for the funding by the local Freemasons.
The Gympie and District Masonic Fundraising Committee which represents nine local Freemason Lodges in the region nominated Community Action and Cooinda Aged Care Centre who have received $10,000 and just over $3,000 respectively to help respond to emerging needs as a result of the pandemic.
Specifically, Community Action will utilise the funds to respond to the increased demand for crisis accommodation and case management support during this pandemic. Whilst residents at Cooinda Aged Care Centre will keep in touch with their loved ones, with ten additional Tablets having been purchased for the facility.
Committee Secretary Ian Gordon said the local Freemasons were proud to have secured this emergency funding for two deserving local charities.
“We wanted to help where help was most needed, and it was clear to us that these two organisations had some challenges ahead, which we could alleviate if we secured this funding for them,” Mr Gordon said.
Hand Heart Pocket Chief Executive Officer Gary Mark said the charity was focused on assisting its existing charity partners and working with Freemason Lodges to increase support at a grassroots level during the Coronavirus pandemic.
“So far, Hand Heart Pocket has provided over $760,000 in COVID-19 emergency support and Grassroots Community Grants to charities across Queensland during the pandemic,” Mr Mark said.
“Cooinda Aged Care Centre and Community Action provide essential services for the region, and we are glad we could provide this extra support at a time when they needed it the most.”
Photo: Back row Gympie Freemasons Leon Pethick and Peter Green, Cooinda Aged Care staff members. Front row, Gympie Freemason Ian Gordon, President of the Gympie and District Masonic Fundraising Committee Neil Dobson and Cooinda Aged Care CEO Jill Hyett.
