Local Groups Prepare to Raise Money for Masonic Temple Small Businesses

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- It’s been two months since the tragic Masonic Temple fire and the group of businesses is continuing to come together to support.

The Phoenix Rising Lost Souls, a group that was created after the fire, is putting together a spaghetti dinner fundraiser in support of the small businesses that were located in the building. 

Joanna Burchett, the Secretary for Phoenix Rising Lost Souls, said it was amazing to see the support the artists received after the fire, but wished it was the same for the small businesses.

“After the fire we realized real quick that the art community had this awesome collective that came to their aid when the fire happened. The small businesses, we didn’t quit have that same community rally behind us,” Burchett stated. “We kind of felt almost like we were just thrown into the deep end and we were kind of forced to figure out, either sink or swim, on how to get back on our feet after it. So this is a way that no one in our area will ever have to feel like that again.”

The spaghetti dinner will be held on April 2nd at the Secrest Auditorium from 12:00 to 7:00 p.m. The spaghetti dinners will be provided by donations along with a silent auction and more.

The local group leaders also thanked Texas Roadhouse and Red Lobster for providing the bread for the spaghetti dinner.

According to Chelsey McIntire, the Vice President of Phoenix Rising Lost Souls and the Director for Kids First, said during the spaghetti dinner event, there will be a dessert table, which 100 percent of those proceeds will go towards the family of Noah, Harris, the the sixth grader who attended John McIntire Elementary and took his life last week.

“Two of my daughters and Joanna son attended school with Noah. I just think that has a community we should be rallying behind the family. It’s not going to take their pain away, but if we can come together has a community to provide a proper goodbye, I think that’s what we should do,” McIntire said.

Also coming up in May, there will be a ‘Community Cares Day’ which will be presented by Phoenix Rising Lost Souls and the Nestle Purina Zanesville.

“Purina has been a part of the Zanesville community for nearly 50 years and we make it an important note to always support the community. This was a disaster, and we wanted to make sure we were supporting it. We’re excited to see our friends, family and our employees and even some of the retirees at this event,” Daila Duncan, HR Manager at Nestle Purina Zanesville said.

The ‘Community Cares Day’ event will be on May 28th at Zane Landing Park with a full day of food, raffles, live music, vendors and kids activities starting from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

McIntire said they are still looking for vendors, volunteers and sponsorships for ‘Community Cares Day,’ items for the spaghetti dinner silent auction and residents can provide baked goods for the Noah Harris Dessert Table. If interested in participating in a good cause and for more information, please contact Phoenix Rising Lost Souls at 740-221-6505 or at 740-562-9341