Charitable nature of the Order of the Eastern Star

We fit into our communities with our charitable works, and support other local charitable initiatives. Most of our members are also involved in other voluntary work in our communities.

Last year, the Order of the Eastern Star donated a total of $82658 to our various cancer projects, and throughout the year, many special donation "IN Memorium" are made.

We support the four major cancer centers. Our commitment to cancer projects and the welfare of the cancer patients can be attested to by the BC Cancer Agency.

Concrete evidence of the charitable nature of the organization as it affects others is the millions of dollars which have been raised within the membership to support national, jurisdictional, and local charities. Many Grand Jurisdictions have homes for their senior members. The projects listed on this site are projects of the British Columbia organization of the Order of the Eastern Star. Each Chapter in the province has in addition their own projects such as scholarships and community projects. the Grand Chapter of British Columbia supports four major cancer centers in British Columbia.

This article appeared in the November 16, 2007 issue of the Victoria Times-Colonist. It certainly is a tribute to all our efforts and we thank the staff of the Times-Colonist for this recognition'

A few rights and a few lefts along the main-floor hallway matrix at the B.C. Cancer Agency's Vancouver Island Centre is a small, corner room that says "Order of the Eastern Star" on the door.

The long-serving fraternal organization, whose Victoria roots go back to 1867, has made the support of cancer patients and cancer research its primary cause for many years -- not only in Victoria but also at the cancer agency's three other regional centres around the province. In Victoria, the organization's dedicated room serves as a station to make cancer dressings, something a core group of a dozen Eastern Star members does each Wednesday.

They cut and measure the gauze, padding and other dressing materials 51 weeks a year, taking only the Christmas week off, said Holly Luck, a member of the Eastern Star's Queen City chapter. Last year, members of local Eastern Star chapters put in 1,441 volunteer hours making 14,025 cancer dressings. Chapters in B.C. and the Yukon have produced a collective 22 million dressings since the faith-based Eastern Star took on the task in 1945.

The dressings are important for patients' recovery, said Wilma Taylor, also a Queen City member. Other local chapters are Victoria, Oak Bay and Ruth, which is based in Sidney.

"They're provided at no charge to the patents," she said. "Because when patients leave the hospital they still need their dressings changed and they're responsible to pay for it."

Taylor said there are eight more cancer-dressing stations throughout the Island, where another 20,670 dressings were prepared last year.

"All the dressings from the Island come down here and are sterilized because there's no facility to sterilize them up there."

Patients can pick up their weekly supply of dressings through the Vancouver Island centre or community health offices.

One means used to raise money for the dressings is the collection of cancelled stamps. The stamps are sorted and then sold to dealers and other people, Taylor said.

Eastern Star chapters also help the cancer agency with ongoing fundraising efforts for research and other needs. Members were recently at a special event to present the Vancouver Island centre with a cheque for almost $30,000 from the entire B.C./Yukon area for the Tumour Tissue Repository -- a "biobank" that collects tissue, blood and other clinical information from volunteer donors, and makes them available to cancer researchers around the world.

At the same time, another $31,000 was donated for the purchase of Spinoza bears. The talking bears provide comfort and reassurance for children undergoing cancer treatment, Taylor said.

She said the research being done by the cancer agency is truly amazing.

"It's an eye-opener. It's phenomenal, and it's very encouraging for those with cancer and their families."

Heather Jones of the B.C. Cancer Foundation -- the cancer agency's fundraising arm -- said work of the Order of the Eastern Star is greatly appreciated.

"They're wonderful. They've always done a lot to support us."

Money for major donations comes from a variety of small and large events around the province that add up over the course of a year. Concerts, bake sales, casino nights and an annual polar bear-style swim called the Big Chill are some of the group's offerings.

"A little bit helps," Taylor said. "Everybody does their part and raises funds however they can, and it just comes together very well."

© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007

Eastern Star donation warms up researchers

Worthy Grand Matron Special Project 2007-2008

 The W.G.M.'s special project this year is the "CANCER PROJECT of the Grand Chapter of British Columbia & Yukon, Order of the Eastern Star"; for free Cancer Dressings, Shane Bursary, Cancer Research (which is actually equipment for all cancer hospitals), and the Erma Boyce Library Fund for knowledge.

First - Cancer Dressings. In spite of all the new techniques in Cancer Treatment, free dressings both during advanced stages, and recurrence after remission, are very badly needed. Cancer dressing are supplied to the many Home Care Health Services throughout the Province to be used by home care nurses, and to outpatients at the four B.C. Cancer Agency Clinics in the Province. The patients on  home care must receive a request from their doctor for the dressings.

The Foster Secretary Association (consisting primarily of Chapter secretaries) of British Columbia & Yukon, Order of the Eastern Star, has a Postage Stamp Project. Members of the Order of the Eastern Star in this jurisdiction collect used POSTAGE STAMPS for the Foster Secretary Association to raise funds for the Cancer Fund, for the purchase of materials to make cancer dressings and other cancer projects including research.  In 2006-7,  $12,014.32 was raised from the collection and sale of used psotage stamps. The accumulated total raised from 1954 - 2007 is $378,509.66. This is a worthwhile venture. If you have any used stamps or postcards with stamp attached (keep the postcard whole with the stamp on) give them to an Eastern Star Chapter near you. Every stamp counts.

Cancer Dressings

The members of British Columbia & Yukon, Order of the Eastern Star, make and provide Cancer Dressings, FREE OF CHARGE, for cancer patients throughout the Province. Contact your nearest Chapter of the Eastern Star for more information.

Our Cancer Dressing stations were started in 1947 and have continued ever since. We have Cancer Dressing Stations ithroughout British Columbia  including many in hospitals, where dressings are made by our members. Since 1947 there have been over 22 million dressings made, achieved by OES members giving approximately 3,300,000 hours. Last year alone over 150,000 dressing were made and provided free to cancer patients by their doctors.

OES Auxiliary

Equipment such as wheel Chairs and other physical aid equipment is stored in depots located in Burnaby, Victoria, Duncan, Chilliwack, Prince George and Kelowna for the use of Eastern Star members and their relatives.

Awards, Bursaries and Scholarships

GRACE SHANE BURSARY

In 2006-7 we gave $18,000 through our Grace Shane Bursary in the past year, supporting doctors and other medical personnel engaged in cancer treatment or research. Many oncologists throughout British Columbia are recipients of a Grace Shane Bursary for training and research.

VIVIAN MARSHALL - ROB MORRIS SOCIETY MEMORIAL BURSARY

This award is given to deserving students who are pursuing a career in music and who are:

• Eastern Star members of the jurisdiction of British Columbia and Yukon who are in good standing in the Order, or the wife, husband, child, step-child, grandchild, sister, brother, niece or nephew of a member in good standing in an Eastern Star chapter in British Columbia and Yukon, or
• members, or former members, of Bethels of the International Order of Job's Daughters, or
• members, or former members, of Chapters of the Order of De Molay in British Columbia and Yukon

ESTARL

These awards are made to assist students in preparing for careers in religion as a Minister, Missionary, Director of Church Music, Director of Religious Education, Youth Leadership or other related fields. Awardees are selected on the basis of need, character, scholarship, leadership, dedication and citizenship. Each province and state has its own program so applicants must apply within their own province or state.

ESTARL awards are not restricted to Eastern Star members. In 2006-7 Two awardees received $5400 in total

ELIZABETH BENTLEY BURSARY

Bursaries are available for students who are relatives of our members. A total of 25 applications were received in the 2006-7 term and $17,075 was awarded to 23 students.

Stipulations:

• Applicant shall be a member or an eligible relative of the sponsoring member.
• A member is permitted to sponsor only ONE Applicant per year.
• Applicants are limited to TWO awards only.
• An applicant must have completed at least two years towards an undergraduate degree.

There is NO limit to the number of applicants a Chapter may submit to the Committee for consideration but ALL applications for Elizabeth Bentley Bursary must be completed in full and signed by the Chapter Secretary and have the Chapter Seal on the Application.

For more information on our Projects or Scholarships, please contact a Chapter of the Eastern Star in your area or contact the Grand Secretary