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Following the devastation caused to parts of
the US Gulf coast by Hurricane Katrina, and
in consultation with the Grand Lodge of the
State of Louisiana, the Grand Charity has
decided to open a relief chest to receive
donations for victims of the disaster.
The hurricane and ensuing flooding caused
widespread damage. An area equivalent in size
to the United Kingdom has been affected.
The US government declared a public
health emergency along the entire Gulf Coast,
as one of the biggest relief operations in the
history of the US got underway. The worst
affected areas were without clean water, food
or sanitation in the early stages and thousands
of survivors had awaited evacuation.
The President of the Grand Charity,
Raymond Lye, has approved emergency
grants of $50,000 of which $35,000 has gone
to the American Red Cross and $15,000 to
the Masonic Service Association of North
America, which is co-ordinating disaster relief
on behalf of Grand Lodges in the region.
Any Freemason wishing to make a
donation to the victims of Hurricane Katrina
via The Grand Charity can do so by sending
a cheque payable to The Grand Charity to
60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ
and noting that it is to be paid into the Special
Relief Chest established by the Grand
Charity under the name: The Hurricane
Katrina 2005 Disaster Fund Relief Chest
No. E0098.
Eligible taxpayers wishing The Grand
Charity to claim tax relief on their donation,
must complete a Gift Aid Donation Form
available from the Relief Chest Department
on 020 7395 9246/9361. The Gift Aid
Donation form should be completed,
including a note of the Relief Chest
number, and returned with your donation.
Gift Aid increases the value of a donation
by 28p for every £1.
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