The North Carolina Mason

January/February 2019 The North Carolina Mason Page 7 About 400 brothers, friends and happy children gath- ered in December for the annual Christmas party at the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford. While guests shared fellowship and a delicious dinner, children played with their friends and families before everyone trekked to various cottages to watch the kids open presents – always a highlight of the night. e annual celebration also draws many lodges, which bring donations and gifts along with them. Sponsors for the cottages this year were: ■ Martin & Jones Attorneys at Law ■ McGregor Enterprise ■ Triangle Italian American Heritage Association ■ Novella Clinical Inc. ■ UNC Hospital - Surgery Service ■ Oak Grove #750 ■ 22nd Masonic District & OES Battle of Alamance ■ Happy Home Heating & Cooling ■ Oxford Orphanage/MHCO Alumni Association ■ Newell #739 Other donors and guests present include: ■ Grand Master Dwight "Mack" Sigmon ■ MHCO Board Chairman Dewey Preslar ■ MHCO Board Member Don Steichen of James B. Green #735 ■ Chris Richardson and Dee Blake of the North Caro- lina Masonic Foundation ■ Zion #81 – Johnny Surles ■ Vandora #745 ■ Knap of Reeds #158 and Eno #210 ■ Aurora #300 Friends gather for the annual Ho-Ho-Holiday party at MHCO OXFORD – Construction contin- ues on the new pool at the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford. As of presstime, the poolhouse is up and work continues on the pool itself and the pad surrounding it. Donations are welcome to help fund the construction. Contact Kevin Otis at MHCO or email Chris Richardson at the North Caro- lina Masonic Foundation, crichardson@ mfnc.org. OXFORD – Royal Hart #497 cel- ebrated the giving season in December with a $2,155 gift to the Masonic Home for Children. Brothers Walter Brooks, left, and James Moseley, right, present a big check to Tina Gilreath, center, MH- CO's donor relations coordinator. REMEMBER: Philanthrophy is one of the five categories required for your lodge to earn a Lion and Pillar Lodge of Excellence award in 2019! Photos by Tina Gilreath

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