Fantastic French toast fundraiser

Waseca’s Tuscan Lodge #77 was busy with customers coming in for a French toast breakfast Sunday, December 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meal was $12 for adults and $5 for kids ages 5-12. The event was hosted by the Waseca-Hope Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Stars, a sister organization to the Freemasons.

The Grand Lodge of Minnesota - a branch of the Freemasons - has been around for 165 years, before Minnesota was made a state. The Order of the Eastern Stars was founded over two decades later and is a fraternal organization with both men and women as members.

Marian Keller, Order of the Eastern Star Secretary, explained that Hope-Waseca Chapter #34 formed over 125 years ago, right around the same time Waseca’s Masonic Lodge organized near the turn of the century. The Masonic Temple, named the Aughenbaugh House, where the French toast breakfast took place, was built in 1902.

“We have been doing the French toast breakfast for several years,” Keller explains. “Our profit can be up to several hundred dollars if, of course, we have good attendance.”

For over a century, the Waseca lodge has held fun events like the breakfast to raise money to preserve its history and give back to the community. Profits made from the event go to good causes. “The Hope Chapter looks for areas in the community that are in need,” Keller elaborates.

Last year, the Order of the Eastern Star donated over $3,000, which included some “very generous” donations from area residents to the Waseca dog park. The Bethlehem Inn was also a recipient. This year, the organization has chosen the Waseca Neighborhood Service Center Food Shelf as the recipient of profits from the French toast breakfast.

Hope Chapter #43 of the Order of the Eastern Star plans on having another breakfast on the first Sunday of December next year. The recipient of the profits will be decided then.