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STUDENT BACKPACKS
This is the 8th year that Wistaria Chapter and Turlock Masonic Lodge have joined together to donate backpacks filled with school supplies to some of the neediest students in Turlock Unified School District (TUSD). Wistaria members earned funds by working at the local election polls. With government funding reduced for foster and homeless programs, TUSD stated that these will benefit 300 of their 15,000 students that may have otherwise been overlooked!
GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL
As a new school year approaches there is lots of behind-the-scenes activity at Wistaria. Among other projects, we are filling classroom orders for fidget quilts for children who are experiencing autism and ADHD. Our members are joined by guests to complete various Patient Comfort projects such as this.
GOODIES FOR FOSTER KIDS
Wistaria members gathered pajamas, underwear, socks, games, toys & candies for local foster kids. Several of our members delivered the goodies to Aspiranet, our new partner in Paying Goodness Forward. We are pleased to once again be meeting the needs of some of our most vulnerable neighbors.
VALENTINES FOR VETERANS
Wistaria members gathered at our local Veterans Foundation in Modesto to fill 100 bags with valentines, homemade cookies, small spiral notebooks, mechanical pencils, decks of cards, pocket-sized tissues, miscellaneous snacks, and mini-first aid kits to be carried in wallets.
We also dropped off packages of homemade cookies to our local VFW for distribution to Veterans and their families at their daily social gatherings and Friday night dinners.
FOR CHILDREN IN CRISIS
Wistaria completed their first delivery of stuffed animals to Jessica's House to provide comfort to the children who are being supported during their grief over the death of someone close to them. This new project will be ongoing for our Chapter.
GOOD TIMES
New Year's Eve 2025 was filled with fun, snacks, games,prizes and lots of laughter as Wistaria members and their guests welcomed in the new year!
FUNDRAISING & PUBLIC SERVICE
During the past 2024 Presidential Election Wistaria members served at several locations throughout Stanislaus County to earn funds to pay forward to various charities of their choice. They worked hard and well, representing their commitment to our nation and our community.
SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN
Children whose mobility is impaired or lives are scarred by an injury or birth disorder, dream of making their disabilities disappear. The doctors and scientists at Shriners Hospitals work together to find ways to make their dreams come true. Although unable to participate in this specialized care, Wistaria members came together to collect and donate requested items to bring a bit of fun and smiles into the lives of the children as they undergo their recovery journeys.
Included in this delivery were Lovey Blankets for infants, turtle keychains, mini Etch-a-Sketch games, Chapstick, Rubik's cubes, Yahtzee scorepads, pencils, sketch pads, "I Can Draw" books, decks of cards, sets of 5 dice, sets of Crayola colored pencils, nail polish and emery boards.
Wistaria members were blessed to receive a tour of the hospital on delivery day. They found that Shriners Hospital has an atmosphere very different from the typical sterile environment, chemical odors, and ongoing overhead announcements at a hospital. Instead they saw a focus on creating smiles to support cutting-edge medical care.
Limbs are replaced as children grow and their needs change. This means that they may have several at once for their various needs.
A few of the highlights during the tour included examining the unique mesh covering that was created at Shriners Hospital to promote healing while protecting children with severe burns, visiting the prosthetics department to view staff as they created specialized limbs, stepping into a state-of-the art imaging unit, learning about the hands-on education being provided by Shriners Hospital's staff to future pediatric surgeons, and hearing about recent advancements in regenerative therapy.
When intake occurs, many children arrive in foster care with all of their worldly possessions stuffed into trash bags. Wistaria used our delivery of party supplies to complete our first delivery of luggage to address this during their next relocation. Handmade "treasure" bags were created to provide care for their most precious items. Additionally, each piece of luggage contained a photo album to fill the special request made to Wistaria by Sierra Vista.
Past Visit with our
Worthy Grand Matron & Worthy Grand Patron
All business can use a bit of fun, so in cooperation with Wistaria's Sisters and Brothers in Districts 14 and 15, our Worthy Grand Matron Christine Huff, our Worthy Grand Patron Larry Orozco, the officers in the Grand Family, and our family and friends were treated to an afternoon of carnival fun after our annual Eastern Star business was taken care of. Guests were entertained with games, prizes, yummy food, carnival goodies, and a petting zoo. What a great time!
Westside Ministries
Wistaria Pays the Goodness Forward!
We succeeded in obtaining over 120 boxes of fruit cups to stock the shelves of our local Westside Ministries prior to the start of school. That's over 1,200 fruit cups! Westside provides a safe environment for afterschool tutoring, fun activities, meals, and personal counseling and guidance for many at-risk children in our community. We are blessed to be able to support them!
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