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MyCHIP Event at Montgomery Lodge

Submitted · March 20, 2019

– On the 16th of March, Montgomery Lodge of Milford, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, hosted a MyCHIP Event at the 24th Annual Family Fun and Disabilities Awareness Fair held at the Milford High School Cafeteria. This year they were joined by members of Scouts BSA Troop 314, who helped with the process for the first time. MyCHIP, or the Masonic Youth Child Identification Program, provides parents with an emergency package for their child, including a video interview, fingerprints, tooth impressions, and a DNA cheek swab. Paul Callahan, Scoutmaster of Troop 314 stated "the Scouts of Troop 314 superbly demonstrated how a Scout is Helpful and Kind, as they helped guide Children through the process." Connor J McNamara, Senior Patrol Leader for Troop 314, stated "This weekends event was a great opportunity where we were able to help families who might need to identify their children in order to find them." The fair is orchestrated by a partnership between the MA Department of Developmental Services, Kennedy-Donovan Family Support Center, Milford Commission on Disability and Milford Family & Community Network.



The MyCHIP Program started in 1988, and since then has been used to identify over 300,000 children. It is estimated that more than 1 million children are lost each year, and the MyCHIP program is in place to help with the recovery of those children. The program is funded by the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts, with the work performed by individual Lodges. Usually a volunteer dental crew performs the tooth impressions. All of the data collected is handed back to the parents to keep in a safe place, just in case they are faced with a parent's biggest fear.