"The house needed several repairs."

Stroud Lodge #142 showed how a Lodge can access the Promises Matter program to make a real difference. An elderly Brother and his wife life in a home he built himself outside of town. The couple is on limited income—with less than $250 a month left over after the normal expenses are paid.

The most urgent repair needed was the replacement of the roof, which would cost $5,750. The Lodge worked with the Area Wide Aging Agency, which allowed $4,000 toward the cost. The Lodge then took $500 from the treasury, and applied for $500 in Matching Funds. An application for a Promises Matter grant supplied the remaining $750 needed.

With the roof replacement taken care of, the Lodge turned to other problems at the home which needed to be addressed.

Anyone who has experienced the biting ice of an Oklahoma winter wind knows why insulation is important. Newer materials, not available when the house was built, have made it possible to significantly increase the comfort and decrease the cost of heating a home. The Brethren of the Lodge determined that the house needed new, insulated siding, which would cost $6,850. The insulation in the attic also needed to be upgraded, which would cost an additional $1,800. The Lodge applied for and received Promises Matter grants to cover those expenses.

In the future, it may be necessary to install insulated windows as well. The Lodge plans to access the Area Wide Aging Agency and the Promises Matter program if the need arises.

Summary The Foundation is proud of the Brethren of Stroud Lodge and the care and concern they have shown for a Brother. It is a genuine pleasure to work in partnership with caring Brother Masons to prove that, in fact, Promises Matter.