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Tygart Valley Scottish Rite Masons present donations

By Edgar Kelley 2 min read
The Inter-Mountain photo by Edgar Kelley The Tygart Valley Scottish Rite Masons provided $750 to FOP Lodge 104 for help with its annual Christmas Party for children. Above, TVSRM President Bob Arbogast hands a check to Randolph County Sheriff Rob Elbon at the Randolph County Senior Center. From left are RCSO Senior Deputy Aaron Channell, Philippi Police Department Lt. Dustin Cale, Arbogast, Elbon, U.S. Probation Officer/FOP Seneca Trail Treasurer Brian Kilgore, RCSO Deputy Seth Davis, RCSO Deputy Connor Waldron, and West Virginia State Trooper Anthony Petrella.

ELKINS -- Each year during the holiday season the Tygart Valley Scottish Rite Masons donate to various organizations to make sure that children in the area have a merry Christmas.

The organization and President Bob Arbogast gathered on Friday at the Randolph County Senior Center to present checks to all of this year's recipients.

Because of successful fundraising, including the Masons raffling off a mini-chopper motorcycle during its annual picnic, the organization was able to add additional charities to this year's Christmas list.

"We had a tremendous fundraising year in 2023," Arbogast told The Inter-Mountain. "We were able to raise $5,000, and because of that, we were able to add names to our list this year."

This year's donations went to FOP Lodge No. 104 for its annual Christmas Party ($750); Philippi Police Department and the Philippi Detachment of West Virginia State Police for its Shop with a Cop Program ($500); West Virginia University Rite Care Foundation ($1000); Charleston Childhood Language Center ($500); Tucker County Family Resource Center for its Children Nutrition and Backpack Program; and the Grant County Sheriff's Association for its Shop with a Cop Program in Grant, Hardy, and Pendleton counties ($1,547).

"We do various fundraisers throughout the year to help organizations that help assist children with having a wonderful and memorable experience during Christmas," said Arbogast. "The organizations we give to not only help with supplying toys, but also aid in supplying nutrition and helping children with language difficulties.

"The efforts of every member of our club resulted in us being able to make a child's life a little brighter this Chrstmas."

Arobgast said the organization has already started mapping out a game plan for fundraising in 2024. He said the first major fundraiser for the upcoming year will consist of three prizes, including his and hers pistols, glider rockers with a beverage table, and a pair of train ride tickets. 

"We are still figuring out all the details of what we will be doing for next year, but the tickets for that first fundraiser will go on sale in January," Arbogast said. "We will have some other fundraisers that will be posted on social media when we get all the details ironed out."

For more information about the Tygart Valley Scottish Rite Masons, call 304-642-3761 or visit the organization's Facebook page.

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