News from Crystal Chapter No. 1 OES
Crystal Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, Charlottetown, is a very active organization which has contributed over $5,200 in the past year to the following organizations
“Run for the Cure” Canadian Breast Cancer
Upper Room Angels- Food Bank
ESTARL – Eastern Star Training Awards for Religious Leadership
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Prince County Hospital and the IWK Hospital
Salvation Army – food bank program and heating oil assistance
Benevolent donation to Electa Chapter No. 9 in New Brunswick following flood damage
Farmers helping Farmers
Hospice Palliative Care Association
Camp Gencheff
Canadian Diabetes Research – Special Project of WGM/WGP
These funds were raised through yearly membership fees, fundraisers and donations from individual members. The largest fund raising event was the annual take-out lobster dinner in late September with 600+ dinners prepared. The auction following the December meeting is always a fun time and raises a significant amount of money while the members prepare to enjoy the Christmas Season.
The one permanent project of the Order of the Eastern Star is the ESTRAL award program which supports students entering their second year of theology, religious leadership of church music . Since we are part of the larger jurisdiction of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island the funds specifically for this project are consolidated and awards are presented to eligible applicants who meet the criteria outlined in the application forms. Students attending colleges/universities recognized by the Canadian Council of Churches are eligible and in the year 2012-2013 amounts of $1,076.00 were awarded to each of fourteen students. Letters of appreciation are testimony of how important such financial assistance was to these students.