By: John Suchanec, Outreach Director

What do you do when you have a problem and you have no idea how to go about solving it?

Difficult situations arise in our lives daily, and because people capable, smart, resourceful and motivated, they often handle them ourselves. However, what do you do when a situation arises and, because you've never experienced this problem before; you're unsure about what to do? Maybe you're even uncertain about who can help you find a solution.

Believe it nor not, hundreds of people find themselves in this position; sometimes through no fault of their own, sometimes because they didn't plan well. Families, retirees, children, adults, working people... it doesn't matter what age group you belong to; it makes no difference what your level of income is. If you have a problem, and you aren't certain about how to solve it, you worry, you become anxious, and you fret until it's settled. The Masonic Homes' Outreach Program is helping people daily... helping families, widows, widowers, parents and children all across the USA... to address their problems and help them find solutions.

The Outreach Program is here to help you, your children, and your parents.

We provide direction and solutions to Freemasons, their families and friends in the community. We help all those who ask. A widower in Texas was helped to find a personal care home until he makes a decision about whether he wants to move back to the Masonic Homes in Elizabethtown. A Pennsylvania Mason was helped to stay with his only remaining family in San Diego. We helped a Brother with a family get back on its feet financially, and find employment that will bring security to him, his wife, and children. With financial support from the community, we helped a child with special physical needs gain placement into a treatment plan. We helped caregivers meet together and encouraged them to build networks of strength and support. We helped people gain access to information that provided answers to important questions.

our program offers help directly by working with families on the telephone, making home visits when necessary to help clarify needs and making presentations to lodges and community groups and are accessible through a nationwide 800 number.

We do this as an extension of the Masonic Homes "Mission of Love." That brotherly love is extended to all as we reach out, into our community, offering information and direction to people who are not certain about where they can turn to meet their needs. The Outreach Program's help is available, and working. Together, we will seek solutions to life's problems.

To learn more about your Outreach Program and its services call: 1-800-4-MASONIC (1-800-462-7664).