Freemasons in Cheshire are reflecting on a year in which they donated £1 million to assist in the local response to the pandemic, including the Macclesfield lodges support to support local scrub makers.

Freemasons around the county responded to the call to provide much needed PPE to hospitals and care homes.

Answering a plea for help from Helen Tams, who coordinated the effort for Macclesfield District General Hospital (MDGH), several local Freemasons Lodges initially gave over £4,000 to enable over 1,200 sets of 'scrubs' to be manufactured from the material bought.

Eaton Lodge and Duke of Connaught Lodge in Macclesfield led the response, which has also seen care homes in the area benefit.

Once the material was purchased and delivered, local seamstresses sewed it into the much-needed garments to allow the safe care of Covi-19 patients.

Helen said: "I want to say how incredibly thankful we are for this incredible donation.From the bottom of my heart and I'm sure all of the MDGH nurses and doctors hearts, we thank you all at the Freemasons. I will certainly never forget it."

Nationally, the Freemasons donated 300,000 meals and 38 tonnes of food to homeless people, women's refuges and vulnerable people, supporting more than 120,000 people in total. Moreover, £560,000 was donated to provide meals and help numerous foodbanks.

Dr David Staples, chief executive of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), said: "No one in this day and age should have to worry where their next meal is coming from. We are so glad that we were able to provide thousands of families across the UK with a hot meal or food donations to help get them through this current crisis.

"Freemasons have achieved all of this in just a few months and have also given their time to produce and deliver food to the vulnerable."

The UGLE is also encouraging its members to roll up their sleeves and volunteer to help vaccinate the population.

"More than 18.5 million hours of volunteer work were undertaken by Freemasons. Now it is crucial that we help in every way we can to protect the population. If the NHS needs volunteers, then we are happy to emphasise the importance of this to our members," said Dr Staples.

He continued: "Our response to the Pandemic shows what Freemasonry is all about; supporting those in need, giving back to our communities and volunteering where it can make a real difference.

"Freemasons have been doing this for over 300 years and I am proud of the time and commitment that our members have given to support the nation in its fight against Covid-19."