Our lodge has been a proud sponsor and promoter of the VACHIP Program periodically sponsoring lodge events. If you are interested in a community event please let one of the lodge officers know and any one of them will be happy to help arrange it. 

VACHIP is a comprehensive child identification program designed to give families a measure of protection against the ever increasing problem of missing children. Virginia Freemasons are the sole sponsor of VACHIP and we are proud to offer this comprehensive Child ID service to Virginia families at "NO COST" to parents and guardians.

How does it work?
The Masons plan events that assemble the equipment and volunteers necessary to generate completed ID packages that consists of the following major components:

  • a brief recorded interview
  • a digital still photograph
  • fingerprinting of both hands
  • dental bite impression (depending on equipment availability)
  • cheek swap DNA/Scent Sample instructions

The recorded interview and still photo burned directly onto a disc, can viewed on your home CD player or home computer, and can be viewed by law enforcement if and when the parent turns it over to them to search for their missing child. The recorded interview disc is a recovery tool that provides far more individual characteristics, a voice sound-bite and mannerisms, in addition to the standard digital still photographs. Fingerprinting is a tried and true method of individual identification. The dental bite impression provides an 3-D image of the biting surface of teeth which, like fingerprints, are unique to each individual. The dental impression and cheek swab also collects enough saliva/cheek cells to provide DNA and a source for scent track for canine recovery. Together, these identifying items provide a most powerful identification and recovery tool.

All VACHIP Events are requested through and coordinated by the Virginia Freemasons. We do conduct Events anywhere across our State when both the equipment and volunteers can be committed.

We are actively seeking donations, contributions and contributing partners to assit us to bring this important community service to every family in Virginia at "NO COST to PARENTS".

More information can be found here at http://www.vachip.org/