Under the umbrella of the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation’s MAC (Masons Assisting Communities) program, the foundation has announced a $25,000 grant provided by the Masons of Pythagorean Lodge to save Fryeburg’s community teen center.

The center is a pilot program launched during the pandemic, serving teens from Fryeburg and the surrounding towns of Stoneham, Stow, Lovell, Sweden, Brownfield, Denmark in Maine and Chatham in New Hampshire.

The center brings children together from all backgrounds and has been growing leaps and bounds, up from 122 kids last fall to more than 300 now. “The success was bittersweet, as the town was faced with a funding dilemma and no obvious solutions,” said Katie Haley, Fryeburg Town Manager, according to a news release from the foundation.

When Freemason Eric Bloomberg of Phythagorean Lodge 11 learned that the teen center was facing closure due to lack of funding, he spearheaded the initiative to keep the teen center open through the generosity and community support of the Masons. Katie Haley said she is “so grateful that Eric took the time and initiative to come speak to me about community needs and that the Masons of Pythagorean Lodge were so supportive of Fryeburg Recreation’s mission to provide programming that is inclusive for all. The generosity of the Masons has been overwhelming and could not be more appreciated.”

The $25,000 grant will help keep the teen center open for another year, giving kids from all backgrounds in the community an opportunity to interact with each other. “At the teen center we see kids opening up about challenges they are experiencing and getting support from their peers. We see kids that haven’t talked to one another for years coming together and putting differences behind them. I am thankful the Masons helped the town keep the teen center doors open,” said Rick Buzzell from the Fryeburg Recreation Department.