Alliance Lodge #467 Hosts Hoop Shoot Contest, Announces Winners

Alliance Elks #467 Northeast District Hoop shoot winners 2019

Front row Addison Reicenback, Paityn McCully, Jake Baker, Parker Woods

Back row,  Drew Simmons, Chelsey Evanich, Shaylee Muckleroy 

Chllicothe Elks Host Veterans Christmas Dinner

The Ohio Elks South Central District Lodges all donated funding so that Chillicothe Elks Lodge #52 could hold it's annual Veteran's Christmas Dinner, on Thursday, December 20, 2018.

Two hundred fifteen veterans from the Chillicothe VA hospital attended the event. All of the veterans received a meal at the lodge, and they were entertained by the high school Jr. ROTC drill team. Everybody also sang Christmas carols, and then presents were handed out to all of the veterans.

Pictured is Ohio Elks President Nevin Taylor (Marysville #1130) addressing the veterans while organizer and Veterans Committee Chairman Butch Bost (Chillicothe #52) looks on.

Merry Christmas From Van Wert Elks

Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks held their annual Christmas Party for the children and grandchildren of Elk members on Saturday, December 15.   The kids were kept well entertained and lunch was provided to all in attendance and the kids were able to enjoy homemade cookies, courtesy of some very special lodge elves.   Santa arrived after lunch and was able to visit with the children and give each child a “treat bag”.

Pictured visiting with Santa is Jack, the grandson of Dave and Patti Keipper

Kent Elks Use Grant to Make Community Safer

Kent Elks Lodge #1377 used a grant from Elks National Foundation to present a check for $2,000 to the Portage county Sheriff's department for their K9 training and child identity safety kits.

From left: Lisa Wadlow, Grants Coordinator, Rick Hanna, Exalted Ruler, Ed Hayes, K9 Supervisor, K9 Glock and lodge officers Matt Wages, Sharon Batsch and John White.

Athens Elks Lodge Helping Veteran Court Program

Athens Elks Lodge #973 presented gift cards to Athens County Veterans Court in the sum of $1,500. The money to purchase the cards was made possible from an Anniversary Grant through Elks National Foundation. These gift cards will be provided to Veterans Court Program participants upon completing each phase of their treatment.

From left to right are Larry Cooper, Rich Russell (both from Athens Elks), Tom Smith and Judge George McCarthy

Wilmington Elks Help Local Law Enforcement

The Wilmington Elks Lodge #797 recently purchased (10) Big Easy Wedge Sticks for the Clinton County Sheriff's Department using an Ohio Elks Association $700 Community Service Grant. These sticks are used to open newer model locked car doors.

Pictured are Exalted Ruler, Dave Appleman, Sergeant Smith of the CCSO, and PER Bill Kassinos.

Dayton Elks Lodge Works Telethon to Raise Money for CP

Dayton Elks Lodge #58 assisted with the United Rehabilitation Services Annual Telethon. This was the 40th Telethon for the Local Cerebral Palsy Unit now called United Rehabilitation Services of Greater Dayton or URS, which covers 10 counties. The Dayton Elks have been a part of every telethon since the beginning and they are the first organization to volunteer to cover the 1st segment of every Telethon.

Starting left to right are Dayton Lodge #58 members Jim Blackshire, Treasurer; Kevin Malloy, Exalted Ruler; Pam Shaw, Secretary and Jeff Shaw, Chairman of the Trustees.

Besides manning the phone bank during the 1st segment, there always is an individual interview where the Ohio Elks is recognized for their generous $20,000 grant to the Unit plus the $800 for camperships. Also is discussed what the Elks does for Cerebral Palsy throughout the State of Ohio.

From left, Mark Allen, WDTN and Host of the Telethon; Mike Iddings, Lodge CP Chairman (representing both the Ohio Elks and the Dayton Elks) and Dennis Grant, URS Executive Director.                                        

Alliance Lodge Fights Hunger This Holiday Season

Alliance Elks Lodge #467 topped last year basket donations. Volunteers filled 300 baskets for 250 needy families. Baskets were filled with enough food for a week and delivered to the families. Some of the bigger families received 2 or 3 baskets. 

Berea Elks Bring Holiday Cheer to VA Hospital

The Berea Elks Lodge #1815 in partnership with Columbia Station VFW Post #9340 delivered special Christmas gifts to veterans at the Louis Stokes VA Hospital at Wade Park in Cleveland. The gifts included sweatpants, sweatshirts, t-shirts, underwear, socks, and personal hygiene products. In all, almost 100 veterans were greeted. The Elks also brought holiday music during the event and a therapy dog. A great time was had by all!

Pictured from left, Lodge Secretary Danielle Mahany, ER Jeff Coyle, member Gary Farkas and Mrs Claus!

Pictured above are Lalene Kay, Member David Kay, and a musical guest

Pictured are Michelle Hill, Linus, and Secretary Danielle Mahany

Salem Elks Hosts Local Hoop Shoot

Salem Elks Lodge #305 held their local Basketball Hoop Shoot contest on Sunday, December 9th at the Community Center Plex.

Those pictured left to right are Douglas Rudibaugh, PER and Chairman; Alaina Johnston 1st in girls 12-13, Macey Troy 1st in girls 10-11, Destany Cunningham runner-up and Alivia Ruth 1st in girls 8-9; Blake Bezon 1st in 8-9 boys; Luke Courtney runner-up and Steven Landfried 1st in the boys 12-13. The winners will continue onto the NE District Hoop Shoot contest on Saturday, January 16th at the Ravenna High School.

Newark Elks Take Aim at Officers for CP

As a Cerebral Palsy fundraiser, Newark Elks Lodge #391 held a Pie-In-the-Face event.  Several Officers and bartenders volunteered to let members "take a sweet shot" at them...for a price!  Laughter, whipped cream, and donations were abundant!

Pictured from left to right are: Esquire Valerie Deedrick, Trustee Dave Underhill, ER John Ridenbaugh, member Mike Firestone and Chaplain/CP Chair Debbie Provasko.

Athens Elks Lodge Delivers Christmas Cheer

Athens Elks Lodge #973 delivered 96 Christmas food baskets to families in need, including presents for their children, on Saturday, Dec 15th. The "food baskets" was enough food to feed a family of four, for two weeks! The cost involved in this annual program is approximately $7,000. 

Pictured is Athens Police Officer Destry Flick, who helped the Athens Elks Lodge #973 deliver the items to families within the city of Athens.

Upper Sandusky Lodge Assists Shop with a Cop Program

Upper Sandusky Elks Lodge #83 recently assisted the Upper Sandusky Police Department in their annual Shop with a Cop program. The lodge donated $1,000 to help the 24 children chosen to participate be able to purchase hats, coats, boots, and gloves!

Pictured with the USPD representatives is PER Amy Ratliff.

Ashland Elks #1360 Host Foster Kids Christmas Party

The Ashland Elks Lodge #1360 held a Christmas party for the foster kids in Ashland County for the 13th year. In all, 27 foster kids received gifts from Santa. The kids and their families arrived at the Elks for lunch and games until Santa's sleigh arrived and he handed out gifts to the children. 

Photo Santa with his helpers: left to right. Shay and Emma Oxenrider, Shawn Bartly, Santa, Scott and Judy Peters, Tom Masburger, Michele Larue and Mike Fallon.

Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 Remembers Our Veterans

Van Wert Lodge Elks Lodge #1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks veterans committee recently made a donation of $195.00 to the Wreaths across America program.    The monies will purchase 13 wreaths.

Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, the mission of Wreaths Across America it to Remember, Honor and Teach, which is carried out by coordinating wreath laying in ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery as well as more than 1,400 additional locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad.

Pictured are Keith Collins, Lodge Veteran Committee Chairman along with members of Boy Scout Troop 32.

This year National Wreaths across America Day is set for December 15 and Boy Scout Troop 32 from Middle Point, OH will be participating in the laying of wreaths at the Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.

Van Wert Elks Lodge is proud to be able to remember our deceased veterans during this holiday season.

Kent Elks Lodge #1377 Helps Homeless Veterans

Kent Elks Lodge #1377 used their Elks National Foundation Anniversary Grant to purchase a shed for the Freedom House in Kent which is a transient home for homeless male veterans. The lodge also provided coats, hats and gloves along with gift cards .

From left: Tiffany Hawley, program coordinator, Cody Sparks, freedom house rep., and Lisa Wadlow, ENF grants coordinator.

From left to right Cody Sparks, Senior Support Worker Lisa Wadlow, ENF grants coordinator, Tiffany Hawley, program coordinator with Freedom House.

The shed is for storage of the donation items they receive for the veterans new homes.

Berea Elks Work To Reduce Hunger in NE Ohio

Members from Berea Elks Lodge #1815 helped to identify, sort and repack over 10,500 pounds of frozen meat for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Meat was re-packed from large pallets to smaller, 25 pounds boxes which will be distributed across 900 agencies and pantries over a six county area.

The Cleveland Food Bank estimates that volunteer efforts like this help save the organization over $3M annually, helping to close the “food gap” of nearly 58,000 meals every day.

Many thanks to the wonderful Berea Elks members who worked so hard to meet the need.

Ohio River Valley Elks #231 Brings Book Fair to Local Students

Ohio River Valley Elks Lodge #231, Martins Ferry, staged a book fair for the Bellaire, OH Middle and High School’s After School Academy students.  The event was held in conjunction with its annual Thanksgiving dinner prepared and attended by the students and their families. 

Prior to the event, Elks worked with the teacher moderators to compile a list of books to present to the students and enhance their library offerings. Titles were chosen and ordered by Elks from Scholastic and Amazon at the most reasonable prices available.

High school teachers picked several titles to use with an entire group of the after school attendees and 20 books of the same title were provided.  Middle school students all received a math workbook How to Ace Middle School Math and were permitted to pick one other title for personal use.  The remainder of the $2,500 worth of books was donated to enhance the school library.

Elk members were hosted at the dinner and then presented books to excited and deserving youngsters.  The event came about in response to identifying a student need and the Elks using an Elks National Foundation (ENF) Promise Grant to help meet that need.

Two more book fairs are scheduled in January for after school students in Martins Ferry and Bridgeport, OH.  These fairs will be supported by the Lodge 231’s ENF Beacon Grant.

Marysville Elks #1130 Continues Dictionary Project

These 3rd graders from Navin and Fairbanks Elementary Schools recently received their own dictionaries thanks to the Marysville Elks Lodge #1130. 

Member Betsy Spain is shown presenting a dictionary to her grandson at Edgewood Elementary School.

The Dictionary Project is in its 12th year and distributes over 800 dictionaries to all the 3rd graders in the 4 school districts in Union County.  To date nearly 9,000 students have benefited from this project which would be difficult to continue with out the support of the ENF Gratitude Grant.

Ohio River Valley Elks #231 Helps American Veterans

Ohio River Valley Elks Lodge #231 received a Freedom Grant from Elks National Foundation in the amount of $2,000.

This was used to purchase pajamas and slippers for veterans in four different nursing homes. We needed bags to put the gifts in and Belmont Savings Bank in Bellaire donated bags for each gift.

This photo shows a veteran at Country Club Retirement receiving his new pajamas, purchased with a Freedom Grant from the Elks National Foundation. Each veteran at four local nursing homes got a pair of warm pajamas, slippers and a bag of comfort items donated by local school children. These were presented at their Veterans Day Program. Tom and Peggy Cusick are shown in the photo giving a gift to a veteran at the nursing home in Bellaire.

They were delivered in time for Veterans Day and the celebrations in the nursing homes. The veterans were delighted with the gifts. Our veterans names will be placed on the Christmas Tree at Boscov’s.

People who take a star will purchase a gift, Boscov’s will wrap it and these will be delivered to the veterans in time for Christmas. We also have sweatshirts, socks and a can of popcorn for each of them. This has been one of the best years for our veteran’s program and with your help we served a lot of veterans.

As our slogan goes, "As long as there are veterans, the Elks will never forget them". Many thanks to all of you for your support and help!