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Local Shriners give children a reason to smile
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By Eugenia Jones {Editor}
eugenia@highland.net
Photo by Eugenia Jones McCreary County Shriners are pictured in front of the transportation van, recently delivered for use in McCreary County. The van will be used to transport local children to and from Shriner hospitals. Pictured left to right: Kenny Carson, Shane Gibson, Larry Smith, Dustin Hamlin, Eddie Inman, Johnnie Wayne Inman, Eddie Morgan, Freddie Burchfield, Darrell Johnson, Bruce King, and Grand Potentate Tim Simpson. Not pictured are Rick Corder and Tim Corder.
McCreary County Shriners recently gathered at the Masonic Lodge in Stearns to celebrate the arrival of a new Shriners children’s transportation van to be used for transporting children from the local area to Shriners Hospitals for medical treatment.
McCreary County’s local Shriners belong to the Oleika Temple of Lexington, KY, and despite the group’s small local membership, local members are dedicated to doing right by children.
Being a Mason is a prerequisite to being a Shriner. Since there are approximately 120 Masons currently in McCreary County, local Shriners are actively recruiting more Masons to become Shriners. Up until approximately two years ago, activity within the local Shriners organization had dwindled. However, since most of the current Shriners have recently joined, the organization is now enjoying a revival of energy and activity.
The local Shriners’ primary goal is to provide transportation to children travelling to Shriners’ hospitals for treatment. Two local Shriners, Eddie Inman and Bruce King, just recently transported a child to Shriners Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.
The transportation van will be used to transport children to any Shriners hospital, especially the Shriners Hospital wing built into the University of Kentucky Pediatric Hospital in Lexington, KY.
Another related group, The Hillbilly Clan 3-Outhouse 8 provides meals to patients, guardians, drivers, and riders during trips to and from the hospitals. Bottom line, the families of children who are treated/hospitalized through a Shriners hospital are not responsible financially for anything, including food, transportation, and medical treatment. Shriners do bill insurance if available; however, families are relieved of any financial burden.
The efforts of the Shriners are supported through member dues and various fundraising activities/events. Children from birth through age 18 are eligible for assistance. Family physicians can refer children for assistance or information about transportation services to/from Shriners can be obtained by contacting any local member. Local members (pictured) can provide information for the transportation area they serve, including McCreary and Pulaski Counties.
The Grand Potentate of the Oleika Temple, Tim Simpson, assisted in bringing the new transportation van to McCreary County. He noted Oleika transports more children than all of the other KY Shriners districts combined. He is particularly impressed with the new Shriner members (nobles) in the McCreary County chapter.
“The guys we have here as new nobles are great,” Simpson said. “They have worked hard to quickly get a van in here. It is awesome how this chapter has taken off. The guys are really getting behind the organization and helping kids.”
Simpson explained his childhood experience with Shriners.
“I was a Shriners kid, 52 years ago,” Simpson shared. “Today, I’m paying it back and paying it forward. I enjoy it-not only helping kids, but meeting guys like these that are Masons and Shriners.”
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