Huber Heights Lodge #777 F&AM has a motto that appears on its letterhead which reads: “Striving to be of value to God, to our Country, to our Neighbors and to Ourselves.” This reflects the masonic teaching that each person has a responsibility to make things better in the world and especially in the community in which they live. This lodge actively supports its community in a variety of ways.
It provides leadership through its members. Of the four mayors that have been elected to lead city government in Huber Heights, the first and third mayors are members of this lodge and the fourth mayor is a member of the fraternity in another local lodge. [The second mayor, not a member of this fraternity, failed to complete his term of office.] Additionally, members of this lodge have served as Presidents of The Wayne Boosters Club, The Huber Heights Athletic Foundation, The Rotary, The Optimists, The Jaycees and in many other capacities.
Masons in the United States, together, provide over $2,000,000 per day in support of community services without regard to the Masonic affiliation of their recipients. This lodge contributes to that overall effort. Members of the lodge are affiliated with The Shrine and its Crippled Children’s Hospitals and Burns Institutes. Some are Scottish Rite Masons who maintain a nationwide network of over 100 Childhood Language Disorders Clinics, Centers and Programs. Some support services are less noticeable: helping a widow pay an electric bill, or providing financial support to the hospitalized, or cutting the lawn of the frail or many other such things. The lodge evaluates each request for financial support that comes to its attention and provides support of causes considered worthy as much as its limited budget will allow. Frequently the brethren of the lodge are asked to respond to immediate needs over and above the budget of the lodge. For example, when Hurricane Katrina struck, this lodge was one of the first to provide a response which was valued at over $4,000 provided by the members of this lodge’s extended families.
It is not possible to list all of the community support efforts of this lodge over the relatively short period of its existence; however, here are a few of the ongoing efforts of the brethren of this lodge:
Huber Heights Lodge #777 F&AM is an active participant in
the Dayton Masonic Center ‘s Blood Drives. An increasing number of members are
involved in this life-saving activity. The blood draws for the remainder of
2006 are all on Mondays from 3-7 PM on the following dates @ the Dayton
Masonic Temple, 525 W. Riverview: August 7, October 9 and December 4. Anyone
unable to give on those dates may go to the Community Blood Center, 349 S.
Main St. in downtown Dayton. Just mention at that location you are giving on
behalf HH Lodge #777. No appointment is needed at either location. When you
donate blood you will receive a dinner coupon at these participating
restaurants: Grub Steak, B.R.Scotese's, Stockyard Inn, Dayton Masonic Temple
Square and Compass Room, Rob's Restaurant, and Old Hickory Bar-B-Q. Remember,
" Donating blood is the gift of life."
Huber Heights Lodge #777 F&AM participates in the City’s
highway beautification Program with responsibility for SR 201 from I-70 south
to Longford Road. Periodically, throughout the year, a group from this lodge
puts on safety gear and armed with clean-up equipment polices the right of way
on both sides of this highway. The crew, when finished, usually joins in
fellowship at one of the local restaurants for breakfast or lunch.
Each year, the lodge awards a scholarship to a deserving
graduate of Wayne High School. The lodge established The Edward K. Hart
Memorial Endowment for Scholarships which provides the funds for this
community service.
The members of the lodge bring imperishable food items to lodge each meeting night and periodically these food items are delivered to the local FISH organization for distribution to families in need in the community.
There is no end to the list of activities the lodge undertakes in providing community services. With projects large and small, the Masons of this lodge try to help make the world a better place, and especially, right here in Huber Heights, Ohio. The lodge gives them a way to combine with others to do even more good.