OUTREACH: Home Assistance ­ It's Not Just Money

The Masonic Homes' Outreach Program offers "Home Assistance" to Pennsylvania Masons who are in financial distress; that is, financial assistance provided when basic needs or other obligations cannot be met. Home Assistance is not "in-home" care; however, it is the means by which a family may pay for in-home care.

The Masonic Homes' Outreach Program offers information and direction to Masonic families and to those who are not Masonic families in need throughout the United States. Outreach does that by making referrals, assessing needs, and locating effective and reliable care providers. The Outreach Program also offers financial assistance to Pennsylvania Masons and their families when they face financial distress related to health concerns and loss of income. Each year, dozens of financially strapped Pennsylvania Masons, widows, and retirees receive financial assistance to help them get through difficult times.

Though many of those whom Outreach helps are retirees or surviving spouses, Home Assistance is not limited to retired Masons and/or their widows. Home Assistance helps couples, families, working age adults, and children.

Recently, Outreach helped a retired couple pay their large monthly prescription drug bills. Home Assistance was the second course of action after working with that couple to obtain assistance from other community sources, including discounts from the drug manufacturers. That effort helped to lower their drug bill by nearly 80 percent. Once securing that kind of community assistance, the need was examined and Home Assistance was approved in an amount that met all of their remaining medicine charges.

Another Masonic couple, up in years, secluded in a remote part of Pennsylvania and living on a meager amount of Social Security income, became aware of the Outreach Program at a Lodge meeting. After examining their condition and gaining an understanding of their income and expenses, their heating oil was paid through the winter months. Outreach continues to work with that couple and has supplied information so that they can make a decision about their long-term needs, i.e., selling their home and moving into a retirement community -- maybe even one of the Masonic Homes.

Health and welfare issues are not limited to senior citizens. Many working-age families have been encountered who were faced with critical health issues that impacted severely on financial stability. When appropriate, funds can be provided that supplement a family income to pay for respite care, day care, or assistance can be offered that may make up for lost income. But, again, what is offered is more than money.

Outreach has coordinated services provided by outside agencies, such as alerting local governmental agencies of needs that exist within their jurisdiction; facilitating the acquisition of services that families were entitled to but were not aware of; and working with other community agencies and some Lodges to raise funds to meet the needs presented within their communities. Those actions are as valuable as Home Assistance.

Home Assistance is an exceptional tool made available for Outreach's use by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. It's a valuable tool for your benefit. If you, a friend, or a family member encounters hardship, please know that the Masonic Homes' Outreach Program is standing by, ready to help you meet your needs... whatever they may be. Simply call (800) OUTREACH. That's (800) 462-7664.