Members of the Moses Cook Masonic Lodge #111 F&AM recently had a special raffle to benefit children in need.

The Masons raffled a handmade quilt with proceeds going for a special project intended for patients at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Shreveport, La.

The quilt was made by Elaine Smith, whose husband Sonny is a member of the lodge.

“Her grandfather was a Mason. Her father was a Mason. And, her husband is a Mason,” said Master of the Lodge Lane Crawford.

“We wanted to do more,” said Master of the Lodge Lane Crawford. “We raised $500 and hope to do more next year.”

He expressed gratitude to Mason Floyd Massey for helping put the fundraising effort together.

“We also appreciate the support of the community in buying the raffle tickets,” Crawford added. “Without them, this would not have happened.”

He explained the hospital is in the process of getting a “mobile entertainment system.”

“Before the children go to surgery, it can be a traumatic experience,” Crawford said. “This is designed to sort of get their minds off of what is ahead for them, which can be intensive because of the severity of some of these cases.”

He said the name of the project is the Starlight Fun Center and “that is what we are helping to finish funding.”

According to the Shriners’ website, the center offers access to family-friendly video games, movies and other programs through mobile entertainment units that can go anywhere in the hospital.

“We have just enough to finish what they were asking for and just a little extra to boot,” Crawford said.

“This is just our first deposit as it were,” he added. “We are not setting a goal for next year except just to do more.”

The quilt was won by Carolyn Lee and her husband Doug, who is also a member of the lodge.

Crawford said that in order to become a Shriner, one has to be a member of a Masonic Blue Lodge, which is the designation earned by the Picayune location.

“We have had members volunteer to drive children to the hospital on occasions,” he added. “It is what we want to do – help these children in any way we can, but it is an emotional experience.”

Crawford said that anyone who is interested in helping the Shriners Hospital, or Masons who may not have been as active as they wanted to be, can contact him at 601-590-2910.