Waxahachie Masonic Lodge No. 90 has brightened smiles again for every Waxahachie ISD first-grader through its generous donation of Fantastic Teeth Fan Club kits.
The lodge has been donating the dental hygiene kits for several years now, lodge member Gregg Burdette shared in a recent visit to the Sun office. The supplies are provided by the Masonic Children & Family Services organization, with local lodge members and their spouses putting them together for distribution.
For this school year, the lodge delivered 852 bags across the district’s elementary campuses in late October. The deliveries were made to the campuses’ nurses and administration in light of the pandemic and social distancing precautions. Pre-covid, the lodge members were able to take them to the classes.
Recently, the lodge received a bundle of thank you notes from teacher Zitlalic Sanchez’s students, and while there’s always been appreciation and thank yous expressed for the initiative, this was the first written response from students – and Burdette couldn’t help but bring the notes with him to show the Sun.
“These brought tears to my eyes,” he said of the special messages. “They just touched my heart.”
The Fantastic Teeth Fan Club program is one the lodge members look forward to each year, with Burdette saying they first contact the school district to find out how many first-graders are enrolled before requesting the supplies, always allowing for some extra to catch any additional students.
“The foundation provides the supplies, and we supply the labor,” he said. “It’s a party when we have the teams assembling these. We enjoy the fun and fellowship with our members and wives.”
In addition to this program, Waxahachie Lodge No. 90 sponsors blood drives through Carter BloodCare, provides scholarships for Waxahachie ISD seniors and assists Waxahachie Care school food drives.
“We don’t do any of this for the thank yous,” Burdette said. “It’s all our way of giving back to the community.”