Members of the Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682 of the Free and Accepted Masons have a mission to serve their community. With that in mind, they invite the public to their Spring Breakfast. The event will be held on Saturday, May 16, from 7 to 11 a.m. in the Brossman Ballroom of the Freemason Cultural Center on the Masonic Village campus, 1 Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown.

The meal will feature all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage, along with a variety of pancake toppings, juice, coffee and water. Food will be prepared by lodge members under the supervision of Woody Gerver, chef and food supervisor at Masonic Health Care Center.

Proceeds from the meal will be used to support the K9 program of Northwest Regional Police Department. K9 officer Arlo will be retiring after more than nine years of service, and the station is in the process of raising funds for a new dog.

The breakfast festivities will include more than food.

"There will be a variety of (giveaways), a blood drive, (and) Arlo and his handler officer Seidel will be available throughout the event with a presentation following the final seating," said Mason Jim Miller. "There will also be representatives of the PA Masonic Youth available to promote their programs and activities. In addition, the Rooster Woodshop on campus will be open with a display of many fine woodworking projects for your purchase. The Rooster Woodshop is also a proud supporter of our efforts in raising funds for this worthy cause."

Advance purchase of tickets is recommended for the breakfast, but tickets may be purchased at the door while supplies last. To purchase tickets, visit the Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682 Facebook page, contact Dennis O'Connor at 717-475-5655 or see any lodge member.

The lodge will also host a chicken barbecue on Wednesday, Aug. 5, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The meal will include a half-chicken from Kauffman's Bar-B-Que, chips, applesauce and a bottle of water.

"This is a drive-through pickup event at the Brossman parking lot on the Masonic Village campus," said Mason Johnny Keplinger. "There will also be walk-up available at the Freemason Cultural Center in the lodge multipurpose room."

Advance sales will be held for pickup until 5 p.m., when dinners may be purchased until sold out. Tickets may be purchased through the same methods used for the Spring Breakfast mentioned above.

Both the breakfast and the barbecue will support the K9 program as well as other Masonic charities and community charities as funds allow.

As O'Connor explained, Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682 is a fraternal organization of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

"Freemasonry is a brotherhood of men who share one common goal: to help each other become better men," he said. "It is the oldest, largest and most widely known fraternal organization in the world. Men from all different backgrounds and walks of life come together as equals and strive to apply the timeless virtues of brotherly love, charity and truth to their everyday lives."

Masons in Pennsylvania serve their communities in various practical ways, Miller said.

"You can find them hosting blood drives, sponsoring youth sports teams, cleaning up a local park, collecting food donations or serving as Scout leaders," he noted. "These community service projects, as well as random acts of kindness, are everyday reflections of who Freemasons are and the values for which they stand."

The lodge is accepting new members.

"Freemasonry welcomes men of every religion, race, age, income, education and opinion," Keplinger said, noting that there are a few required qualifications to join. "Further information is available at http://www.pagrandlodge.org, where you can also submit a request to join."

Choosing the K9 program as a beneficiary of its events was a natural fit for the organization, O'Connor said.

"Masonic Village was approached to see if any organizations on campus would be willing to support the effort to help raise the funds for the K9 program," he shared. "With one of the goals of freemasonry being to support the community, we were honored to step up and help support this worthy cause."

Keplinger added that beyond enjoying a delicious meal, the breakfast and the barbecue offer more to anyone who attends.

"These events are great opportunities to see how freemasons work together to support a worthy cause and enjoy the fellowship and socialization of our brothers and the community," he said. "In addition to the breakfast and chicken barbecue, Abraham C. Treichler Lodge welcomes individual and/or business donations for this worthy cause." Donations may be mailed to the lodge. For more information, visit the lodge's Facebook page.