Berea Elks #1815 Help Local High School Fight Vaping Problem

Berea Elks Lodge #1815 presented a check for $2,000 to Berea-Midpark High School to help fund an education program about the dangers of e-cigarettes and vaping. The High School has seen a sudden spike in the usage of these products on campus and considering the current dangers around vaping, this effort could not possibly be more timely. The funds were made possible by a grant from the Elks National Foundation. Many thanks to Assistant Principal Mark Mucha for his efforts within the high school to stop this dangerous practice from spreading any further.

From left: Richard Threadgill, PER, and Mark Mucha, Assistant Principal Berea-Midpark High School.

Willoughby-Cleveland Elks #18 Help Make Community Safer

On Tuesday September 10th Willoughby - Cleveland Lodge donated $500.00 to the Gates Mills Fire Dept. to be used to purchase carbon monoxide and smoke detectors as well as donating two boxes of opiate resistant gloves.

Pictured from left to right are Gates Mills Fire Chief Tom Robinson, PER Larry Clement, PER Bob Bell and Treasurer Jon Felice.

Elks Adopt Vets At Local Baseball Game

The Annual Adopt-A-Vet Toledo Mud Hens Game took place once again with 95 to Veterans to participate in the a fun filled day. This was to include the 180th Fighter Wing, Ohio National Guard however they were on extended deployment and couldn’t make it. So The Elks got out on the street of at the ballpark in downtown Toledo and asked any person if they were a Veteran, if so they could see the game, have a buffet luncheon, sit in AC, or in the Roost section of the ball park. The Veterans were well received by the Elks, very happy, and proud that the Elks took the time to ask. In all the Elks were able to recruit 79 Veterans. To the Elks  who went out of their to go and recruit they were Larry Mills, Gary Vice, Maumee BG Lodge #1850,  Chuck Hilyard Sr, Chuck Hilyard Jr, Terry and Terri Harrison, Toledo Sylvania Lodge #53, Mary Beaston Fremont Lodge #169, along with six other volunteers who helped during the game. Thank you to all for supporting our Veterans and participated by donating a ticket  to our Veterans for a great day at the ball park.

Gallipolis Elks #107 Supports Local Athlete

Taylor Ramey, a junior at River Valley HS, was selected to attend the Under Armour Factory Softball Christmas camp and national tournament in Vero Beach, Florida.  Taylor is an outstanding softball player for RVHS and plays in the summer softball travel team for the WV Tide 18u.  Taylor’s coaches nominated her for the Under Armour tryouts in Columbus where she competed against young ladies from across the United States and other countries for the few slots available at the camp.  Taylor’s long term goal is to go to college, play softball and become an Occupational Therapist.  To help cover some of the expenses for the camp, the Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 donated $500 to her camp.  Pictured from left to right is ER Bob McClaskey, Taylor Ramey, and Angie Halfhill, Taylor’s Nanny.

Pictured from left to right is ER Bob McClaskey, Taylor Ramey, and Angie Halfhill, Taylor’s Nanny.

Willoughby-Cleveland Elks #18 Help Make Community Safer

Willoughby-Cleveland Elks Lodge #18 presented the Willoughby Fire Department with a check for $500 to be used to purchase carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, as well as two boxes of opiate resistant gloves.

The Elks are committed to making sure that our first responders not only have the tools to help the citizens of our communities, but also the welfare of our first responders as well. These funds were made available through grants supplied by the Elks National Foundation.

Shown with Chief Todd Unger representing the Lodge are (from left) PER Larry Clement, PER Sue Knight and PER Kirk Kokal.

Chillicothe Elks Lodge #52 Volunteer to Help Cerebral Palsy

Chillicothe Elks Lodge #52 volunteered to usher at the Tecumseh outdoor drama the week of Aug. 19th thru Aug. 24th.  The lodge received $500 to give to its designated charity, cerebral palsy.  Each evening required between 6 to 10 volunteers.   Elks Lodge #52 wants to thank the volunteers that consisted of Lodge #52 members, family members and friends including 4 members of Jackson Lodge #466.  Thank you for helping to complete another successful project.

Fremont Elks Lodge #169 Work to Help Fight Hunger

The Sandusky County Food Pantry received a donation of $2,000 from Fremont Elks Lodge #169 to help meet the growing challenge of providing assistance to the community’s needy.

A check was presented to officials of the food pantry by Mike Sanchez, Exalted Ruler of the local Elks lodge. This is the ninth consecutive year that the Elks have made that size donation to the food pantry.

Fremont Elks Exalted Ruler Mike Sanchez, center left, presents a check for $2,000 to Jim Faist, treasurer of the Sandusky County Food Pantry. Others in the picture are, from left, Elks Trustee Mike Kelly, Roy and Marty Wilhelm of the food pantry, and Elks trustees Rick Frank and Billie Lee.

The volunteer-run facility provides assistance to county residents who have been pre-screened and referred to them by the county’s Department of Family Services or Health Department, or by a local church. The food pantry, which has been in operation since 1977, relies solely on food and monetary donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations. It provides food equivalent to 200,000 meals annually to needy individuals and families.

Roy Wilhelm, the food pantry’s president, said the Elks’ donation is particularly useful this year because a large local business recently redirected its ongoing charitable efforts, resulting in a sizeable drop in the food pantry’s income.

“We very much appreciate the Elks Club’s continuing support of our food pantry,” Wilhelm said. “Many people in the community may not realize what a gap we’re able to help fill for so many people who are less fortunate or temporarily down on their luck. We provide food for close to 1,000 people a month.

“The Elks Club is a great partner in our efforts.”

Funds for the Elks donation were obtained by the local lodge through a Beacon Grant issued by the Elks National Foundation, the charitable arm of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, which has 850,000 members in more than 2,000 lodges across the country. The Fremont lodge was one of only 50 local Elks lodges in the nation to qualify for the grant.

The Sandusky County Food Pantry is located at 129 Bidwell Ave., just behind Sandusky County Share & Care Center, a thrift shop for the needy. The food pantry is open Monday through Friday from noon to 2:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation can drop it off or mail it to the food pantry. For more information, call 419-334-8158

Local Youth Learn How to Golf With Help From Van Wert Elks #1197

The Golf Committee from Van Wert Elks Lodge No. 1197 recently donated $1,000 to the YMCA Hickory Sticks golf course.    The monies are to be use for the  youth golf programs.

Pictured from left are golf committee member Chuck Sperry, Darcy Crummey Director of Golf and John Jones, golf committee member.

Wren Park Getting New Dugout With Help From Van Wert Elks #1197

Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 is happy to announce that the Van Wert Elks Golf Committee recently donated $500 to the Wren Ball Park Association.    The monies are earmarked to help build a dugout on one of their baseball diamonds to help with the youth activities at the ball park.

Pictured from left are Shane Mills representing the Golf Committee and Jeremy Kitson of the Wren Ball Park Association.

Athens Elks #973 Uses Beacon Grant To Help Local Kids Get Back To School

Athens Elks Lodge #973 packed and donated over 50 backpacks with $2,000 of school supplies and worked together with  Southeast Ohio Youth Mentoring to give them out to area kids.  The money came from an Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant.

Pictured from left: Athens Elks Jim Balding, Joe Vassallo, Tim Lairson, Glen Hanson and with SE Ohio Youth Mentoring Jim Salzman.

Salem Elks Lodge #305 Helps Local Scout With Eagle Project

Brogan Fisher with Boy Scout Troop #2 is working on his Eagle Scout project. Presenting him with a check donation of $500 of the Salem Elks Lodge #305 is Connie Smith, Exalted Ruler and looking on is Kim Chapman, Leading Knight. He wants to plan, coordinate and engineer a project to prove leadership skills and to benefit an institution in our community. The project will have a stone platform surrounding a flag pole that will include five plaques designated to each branch of the U.S. Military at the Greenford Christian Church. This will honor and show appreciation to all who have served and are currently serving in the military.

Presenting him with a check donation of $500 of the Salem Elks Lodge #305 is Connie Smith, Exalted Ruler and looking on is Kim Chapman, Leading Knight.

State Hoop Shoot Champion Visits Newark Lodge #391

At the regular lodge meeting on July16, 2019, Newark Lodge #391 was visited by our Boys 8-9 Age Group Hoop Shoot State Champion, Tripp Miller. Tripp spoke to the Lodge about his Hoop Shoot experience and what he learned from it. Tripp was very well spoken for such a young man, and his presentation was enjoyed by all in attendance. We are looking forward to him participating again this fall in the 2019-2020 Hoop Shoot Contest year, as well as his younger brother who will be eligible to compete this year!

Bill Trumbull, PER, the Newark Lodge and South Central District Hoop Shoot Director, along with ER Ed Smith, presented Tripp with a Warm Up Top commemorating his State Championship.

Chillicothe Elks Lodge #52 Helps Local Kids Get Back To School

Chillicothe Elks Lodge #52 purchased 192 backpacks and filled them with elementary school supplies to be distributed to needy children throughout Ross County.  This project was funded by an Elks National Foundation Beacon grant of $2,500.  Elk members distributed the backpacks the last week of July and the first week of August to insure the children had sufficient supplies to begin the school year.

Gallipolis Elks Honor WWII Veterans

Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 recently honored our current WW II veterans with a small ceremony and reception. PER Rick Borton welcomed the veterans and thanked them for their service and reiterated the Elks Veteran's Pledge to them and the guests: “So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks will never forget them.”  Drinks and light hors d’oeuvres were served.  Other WW II vets not in attendance but were recognized were Hoby Foster, 93, Leo Valentine, 92, Merill Null, 92, Robert Wood, 91, and Fred Folden, 90.

Pictured are Tony Merola, 94, Jim Betz, 93, and Homer Hankins, 93.

Lorain Elks Lodge #1301 Honor Local Scout

Lorain Elks Lodge #1301 presented the National Elks Gold Star Award to Elizabeth Wenner for her outstanding project of cleaning neglected headstones at a local cemetery.   The lodge presented Elizabeth with the National Elks Scouting pin, the Elks Scouting Patch, a framed Elks Gold Star award, an American flag and a $100 Visa gift card. 

Congratulations Elizabeth on a job well done!

From left: George Wenner, ER Barb Szalay, Gold Star recipient Elizabeth Wenner, Jeanette Wenner & Bobby Wenner.

Lorain Elks #1301 Helps Make Community Safer

Lorain Elks Lodge #1301 used a $750 Ohio Elks Community Service Grant for the purchase of a Gas Alert Monitor ( used for undetectable gases ).  The Lorain Fire Department presented the Lodge a framed appreciation letter.

From left: ER Barbara Szalay,Lecturing Knight James Davis, Secretary Nora Schrenkel,Captain Shawn Lloyd & Fire Chief Chris Radman.

New Philadelphia Elks #510 Help Local Police Make Community Safer

Jeffrey Warner, DDGER of New Philadelphia Elks Lodge #510 presents a check for $1,220 to Dover Police Chief Paul Bantum. The check will purchase a new taser gun for the local police department. This check is funded in part by a Community Service Grant. New Philadelphia Elks proudly gives back to the community over $65,000 each year.

Athens Elks Lodge #973 Helps Local Fire Department With Safety Upgrades

Athens Elks Lodge #973 donated  $750 in grant money to Carthage Township Volunteer Fire Department to help replace all of their fire Extinguishers on the trucks.  This will provide updated  safety equipment for the firefighters as well as the community they serve. Money was provided from the Ohio Elks Association Community Service Grant.

Fro left: Athens Elks members Jim Balding, Rich Russell and Ernie Perry and from Carthage Township FD are Jerrick Nutter, Chris Nutter, Jameson Allen and Jim Allen.

Kenton Elks Lodge #157 Supports Local 4H Campers

The Kenton Elks 157 held a reception for the 40 recipients of grant money used to help pay for expenses to attend 4H camp. Kenton Elks Lodge 157 applied for the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant and was awarded $2,000 to be divided among Hardin County Youth who applied for the money. Each student received $50 to be used toward 4H camp which was held July 21st through the 25th.

During the reception students introduced themselves and recounted their favorite experience from 4H camp. Jodine McKinley is the facilitator of this project and acted as the host of the event. Exalted Ruler Derek Kaufman recounted his wonderful experiences at 4H camp and informed the attendees on how the Gratitude Grant works through the Elks. Extension Educator and 4-H Youth Development coordinator, Amanda Raines, also spoke about the impact this grant money has on Hardin County residents and how it helps more kids attend the local area program. Present at the reception were many 157 PER’s and current Officers of the lodge.

To receive their potion of the grant money, Hardin County youth must apply to Kenton Elks lodge 157.

Van Wert #1197 Supports Local Scout Council

Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 recently donated $125 to the Black Swamp Area Council, Boys Scouts of America.   The donation is part of the annual Friends of Scouting fund raising campaign

 The Black Swamp Council which is headquartered in Findlay covers thirteen counties.  It provides two camps, Camp Berry near Findlay and Camp Lakota near Defiance for the scouts to hold activities at and attend summer camp.  The Friends of Scouting campaign contributions held the Council fund camping programs, adult and youth training programs.    

For 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America has been instilling the values embodied in the Scout Oath and Law, the Scout Motto, “Be Prepared” and the Scout Slogan, “Do a Good Turn Daily”.   The council provides scouting programs to 6,300 youth.

Pictured are: Greg Amstutz from the Black Swamp Council accepting the check from Lodge Chaplain Larry Miller.