SPENCER — Providing help and support to North Rowan Elementary School students and their families who have a need is what the members of Eureka Masonic Lodge #45 wanted to do, and therefore presented a monetary donation to Cynthia Rice, the schools’ student support specialist.

Jeffery Roberts, worshipful master of the local lodge, said they first considered doing a book bag giveaway, but when that fell through, he said they decided to select a particular school and do something for them.

Harold Moore, who serves as junior warden, reached out to Rice and asked how they could be of help to the school and they discussed the work she does with the students and the option of a monetary donation was mentioned, and this was decided upon by the members of the lodge.

A “monetary donation will help them more because they need more than a book bag. They need all kinds of supplies,” said Roberts. 

On Oct. 1, Roberts, Moore, lodge Chaplain Daryl Givner, and Rev. Ervin Hannah, who is pastor of Erwin Temple CME Church in Woodleaf, presented Rice with a $500 gift card.

In addition to the donation, which they anticipate doing on an annual basis, the decision was made by the members to partner with the school and provide additional help in between, if the whole body consents, Roberts added, telling that he can’t speak for the whole body, but “if everybody agrees, that’s what we will do.”

Those members of the lodge, in addition to the four at the presentation, are Ernest Hargrove, Gary Allen, Robert McCoy, Tim Pharr, James Geter, Jerome Hosch, Eric Simelton, Tyrone Davis, Roy Davis and Tony Sherrill.

Rice said she was “looking forward to partnering with them. I’m really excited.”

And this partnership could be time spent or whatever way they decide, “but it’s a commitment that we will have,” she said. “They will call me to see what I need. I will call them when I need them as well.”

Students that Rice works with from grades three through five, joined her, members of the lodge and Assistant Principal Reginald Jenkins for a photo.

Rice works with girls in grades 3-5 in a program called GEBS, Girls Empowered By Success, which provides mentoring, working on character building and teaching life and social skills.

A similar program for the boys called Man Up is offered. She noted that some local men come in and work with them also teaching life skills through this character building program,

Jenkins expressed appreciation for the donation, saying that “it’s an honor to be the recipient of this gift.”

He noted the many needs and said “our kids and family members will appreciate it.”

Rice likewise shared her thanks for the donation telling that it will “really benefit the students and truly be a blessing to to help students” when they have need of certain items such as school supplies, which they often provide students with or clothing if something happens where they might need a change of clothes for a variety of reasons.

Sometimes, Rice said, they run short on needed items for the students, but this donation will help.

“The gift they are giving us is truly a tremendous blessing to be able to provide these things to students and make sure that we have them,” she said.

And not only were those at the school thankful to receive the gift, but the lodge members were just as happy to provide it. 

Moore said that being able to provide for them “means the world to me because it’s giving us a chance to give back to those underprivileged. Every little bit helps when it comes to children. It takes a village.” 

A retired teacher, Givner said he knows “what it’s like for the community and the needs of the community” and so he also said it meant the world to him to be able to help the kids.

“We’re just grateful,” said Hannah, when asked about being the hands to help the school in this way.

“This is a program that is not well known and recognized,” he said, “and we want to definitely see what we can do to assist Ms. Rice in that we may be able to help,” not just there but in Rowan County he said.

“I’m greatly appreciative of what she has done, is doing and continues to do, and whatever we can do from the brotherhood of our Eureka Lodge #45, we will do what we can to bring it about,” Hannah said.

If other organizations or individuals would like to contribute to the school, they may contact Rice either by emailing her at RiceCj@rss.k12.nc.us or calling the school at 704-639-3042.

“We are not turning anyone away that wants to help support our families and our students here,” Rice said.

Roberts noted that they collect money at each of their meetings so they can support others such as this, and therefore, “if each brother would just contribute a certain amount of money each year, we can do it that way and we don’t have to do a fundraiser” to provide this help.

Helping others is what they are about, Roberts said, “reaching out, being charitable in this community.”