I write today with great appreciation that despite this difficult economic time, generosity is alive and well.

We sent a call out to service organizations in our area to help us achieve a monumental task. This year, we are sending all 56 Lower Lake Elementary School sixth graders to Alliance Redwoods outdoor education camp.

Three local Masonic lodges responded to our call for help. We would like to thank Masonic Lodges No. 183 (Clearlake), No. 199 (Kelseyville) and No. 146 (Ukiah) for their generous donations toward our sixth grade field trip. We appreciate their commitment to our children and the local community.

I look forward to rising to the challenge of making this field trip an annual event that all prospective Lower Lake Elementary sixth graders can look forward to.

Rachel McFarland is a sixth grade teacher at Lower Lake Elementary School.

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