By Casey Neill
Freemasons from Greater Dandenong and beyond donated $15,000 to help kids in crisis.
Backpacks 4 VIC Kids received the leg-up from Freemasons Foundation Victoria, Lodge Noble and Mordialloc Lodge at a dinner at the South East Masonic Centre in Keysborough on Tuesday 20 March.
Lodge Noble Worshipful Master Bill Gardiner said the local lodges assisted many worthy causes.
“We chose Backpacks 4 VIC Kids because they are trying to help kids in crisis without government funding and they are based locally in Cranbourne,” he said.
“Their founder, Sally Ritter, started this charity on her own and has developed it into an active and vibrant force, helping kids who otherwise would have nothing in a crisis situation.
“With the apparent increase in family violence, this problem would not appear to be lessening in the near future.”
On the Backpacks 4 VIC Kids Facebook page, Ms Ritter said she was very grateful.
“These donations and grants make an incredible difference to our work, and to our sustainability,” she said.
