Conneaut #236 Supports Community with $10,500 in ENF Grants

From left to right. Tim Kategianes  ( Church of Christ) Linda Fuller (Church of Christ) Lee Fleck (Church of Christ) Minister Tim Kraus (Church of Christ) Karen Burdick (Church of Christ) Dan Blank (exalted Ruler Elks 256) Sally McKroskey ( New Leaf Methodist Church) Diane McKenna (Grant Coordinator Elks 256) Martha Thompson ( Good Shepherd Lutheran Church) Pastor Joshua Krenz (Good Shepherd Lutheran Church) Michelle Logan (Good Shepherd Lutheran Church)

On 12/8/25 the Conneaut Elks # 256 held a Grant presentation to give specific grants to area organizations

Freedom Grant - $1,000 went to Feed Our Vets. Tracy Bidwell was unable to attend the ceremony. The organization asked for money to be applied for personal care items which are often not available from the food bank. The Elks purchased 103 bottles of shampoo, 50 deodorant sticks, 35 bottles of body wash, 160 bars of soap and 75 tubes of toothpaste to be donated to Feed Our Vets, 

Spotlight Grant - $2,000 went to the Conneaut Church of Christ for their clothing ministry. Minister Tim Kraus received the grant for the Church of Christ. The ministry provides clothing and baby items to community members free of charge. The money will be used to purchase a storage trailer for off season items.

This year we combined the Beacon Grant and the Gratitude Grant.

Both grants totalled $7,500 split evenly between 2 churches.

$3,750 went to the New Life Methodist Church for Blessings in a Backpack. Sally McKroskey accepted the Grant for the Church. Blessing in a Backpack serves 359 area elementary school children in Ashtabula County. This organization receives no government money and survives on grants, donations and fundraisers. Every weekend during the school year, each child receives a bag containing 2 entrees, 2 cereals and 4 snacks.

$3,750 went to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church's Food Pantry. Michelle Logan accepted the Grant for the Church.Good Shepherd has 3 different programs under the Food Pantry.  They offer free lunches to anyone 11 months out of the year. They have a food bank that supplies food items to 170 - 180 families/month. Lastly they have Nicks Closet which supplies cleaning supplies to 20 - 25 families /week.