Daily News Photos by CRISTIAN SIMESCU Caribbean Pride and Unity president Mercedes Haynes-Ross puts several meals aside to feed the needy Friday afternoon at My Brother's Table in Frederiksted.

ST. CROIX - Three Masonic groups pooled their efforts and donations to help feed the needy and homeless in Frederiksted on Friday in observation of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

Members of Paradise Lodge 170, the Pride of the Virgin Islands Consistory 373 and the Order of the Golden Circle Caribbean Pride and Unity donated money and food to My Brother's Table soup kitchen in Frederiksted. Eight members from the groups also joined two HOVENSA employees to help staff at the soup kitchen serve clients.

The menu included stewed turkey, kingfish, seasoned rice, macaroni and cheese, vegetables, salad and fruit salad.

Paradise Lodge deputy grand master Wayne Ross said the effort was their way of giving back to the community.

"We do this because we love to," Ross said. "We can't feed everybody, but we try to do what we can."

Ross also said they hold several food drives throughout the year.

The Rev. Rodney Koopmans, of the St. Croix Reformed Church and the soup kitchen's executive director, said he's grateful for all the help. "We're fortunate to have great friends in the community who come and assist us not only in the holidays but throughout the year," said Koopmans. "We couldn't do it without the community."

As part of the observation of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, which concludes today - St. Croix Mission Outreach also coordinated a grant from HOVENSA to feed the needy at the Lord God of Sabaoth Lutheran Church in Christiansted on Friday. They will also serve prime rib at My Brother's Table Tuesday at noon.

Rotary West will serve Thanksgiving lunch at My Brother's Table on Thursday.

To help fight hunger on St. Croix, donations can be mailed to: My Brother's Table, P.O. Box 3194, Frederiksted, V.I., 00841.