Kansas Masons Award $10,000 to the Northwest Fire District

McKinley Lodge No. 41 Supports Local First Responders Through Community Grant Program

Pomona, Kansas (September 18, 2025)—The Kansas Masonic Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to benefiting Kansas communities, has partnered with McKinley Lodge No. 41 to award a $10,000 Local Community Grant to the Northwest Fire District.

The Northwest Fire District provides fire suppression and emergency medical response to approximately 133 square miles of Franklin County, Kansas, including the townships of Greenwood, Pomona, Appanoose, and South Centropolis.

“Our organization is in desperate need of an extractor and drying cabinet to clean bunker gear of carcinogenic residue from fire exposure,” said Stan Lantis, Fire Chief of the Northwest Fire District. “Extractors are specialized machines designed for this purpose and are out of reach of this small, rural, all-volunteer district’s budget. Current national statistics show that exposure to these elements is a leading cause of cancer deaths among firefighters, so this equipment is essential for our volunteers’ protection. ” 

This year, as a part of its inaugural Local Community Grants program, the Kansas Masonic Foundation, in collaboration with McKinley Lodge No. 41, has decided to award a $10,000 grant to the Northwest Fire District. The organization provides fire suppression and emergency medical response in Franklin County. This funding will allow the organization to purchase an extractor and drying cabinet, which will provide vital protection for volunteers. The equipment will also be made available to surrounding departments. 

About the Kansas Masonic Foundation:
As the philanthropic arm of Kansas Masons, the Kansas Masonic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to benefiting Kansas communities and supporting fellow Masons and their families. Since its inception, the foundation has invested more than $50 million in Kansas communities and individuals through funding academic, scientific, and charitable endeavors. For additional information about the Kansas Masonic Foundation and to get involved, click here. 

About the Grand Lodge of Kansas:
The Grand Lodge of Kansas is the governing body of Freemasonry in Kansas, established on March 17, 1856, five years prior to Kansas’ statehood. Freemasonry is the oldest, largest, and most widely recognized fraternal organization in the world. Freemasons are men, aged 18 and over, of good character who strive to improve themselves and make the world a better place. Kansas Freemasonry encompasses nearly 11,000 Kansas Masons and 170 Lodges across the state. For more information, please visit kansasmason.org.