Richard Threadgill 5/10/21 Richard Threadgill 5/10/21

Marion Elks Lodge #32 Honor Local Citizen

Marion Elks Lodge #32 presented the Mayor of Marion, Scott Schertzer, with the Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award, thanking him for all his hard work and support during the pandemic.

Marion Elks Lodge #32 presented the Mayor of Marion, Scott Schertzer, with the Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award, thanking him for all his hard work and support during the pandemic. The award presentation was posted on our Facebook page.

Left, Scott Schertzer, Mayor of Marion, OH and Right, Rex Coldwell, PER, PDDGER, current Secretary at Marion 32

Richard Threadgill 5/3/21 Richard Threadgill 5/3/21

Upper Sandusky Elks #83 "Fills Bags" For Ohio Veteran's Home

Upper Sandusky Elks Lodge #83 held an Elks Veterans Service “Fill A Bag” event starting in early March running through April 2021. Using the needs list from OVH, members were asked to make donations to the home. Several raffles were held also to raise money along with monetary donations members chose to donate allowing the purchase of additional items. The Response was overwhelming collecting over 33 bags and estimated value of $2,100

Exalted Ruler Dan Smith delivered the donations to OVH, which was welcomed with open arms and sincere gratitude. Volunteer visitations have not resumed for us at the home. With the ongoing communication and support of the dedicated homes staff the Elks are able to bring needed and wanted donations to our heroes.

From Left: ER Dan, Carla Dupont, Assistant Volunteer Coordinator

From Left: PSP Mark Ratliff, Wife Amy, ER Dan Smith, Trustee Eric Troiano.

Richard Threadgill 4/25/21 Richard Threadgill 4/25/21

Newark Elks #391 Crafts Gnomes of Cerebral Palsy

The Crafty Ladies of Newark 391 got together for a fun day of crafting gnomes. With a lot of laughter and a few burned fingers, the ladies also donated $55 to CP.

Pictured is left back row: Susan England, Patty Taylor, Staci Swartz, Kathy Wise, Ginger Rife, Chris Schumaker, Sue Lange. Left front row: Becky Underhill, Mary Wohlheter, Cianna Green, and Marion Baran

Richard Threadgill 4/19/21 Richard Threadgill 4/19/21

C-A-B Lodge #1923 Helps Local Schools With Legos of Love

Cuyahoga Falls - Akron - Barberton Elks Lodge #1923 partnered with the Cuyahoga Falls Board of Education and the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) to help with the Legos of Love drive. This was our chance to help the city schools raise Legos so that every single k-5 student, 1500 learners, would have their own Lego sets. Legos have been proven to provide anxiety relief for young ones during breaks and recess during covid as everything is still so different these days. The lodge 1923 was able to raise well over $1,500 in Lego sets and $600 in cash donations for the Board and PTO to purchase more sets that they need. We were excited they approached us to be a part, as we were one of only a few businesses in the area that was a drive location. This helped drive some additional traffic to the Lodge and got our Lodge members super involved.

Richard Threadgill 4/19/21 Richard Threadgill 4/19/21

C-A-B Elks #1923 Helps At Risk Families During Easter

Cuyahoga Falls-Akron-Barberton Elks Lodge #1923 delivered and served 110 meals the Saturday before Easter, to at risk folks about a block away from our Lodge. We prepared, packaged and served ham, sides, thus a full holiday meal. Then we delivered it at their building to create a fabulous holiday for these folks. We also created Easter bags with candy for each person, to spread some holiday cheer. With covid and such we have made several tweaks to package these individually and taking all the protocols. We have done our Holiday Meal program for many years for the 3 major holidays every year for these recipients. These meals were funded by an Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant.

Richard Threadgill 4/7/21 Richard Threadgill 4/7/21

Newark Elks Lodge #391 – Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Newark Elks Lodge #391 added Operation Feed to their Community Activities this year and we had a terrific first year too! We filled 21 boxes with needed grocery and personal care items as well as diapers, wipes, and baby food and collected $280 to give to the Food Pantry Network of Licking County.

Yes we are still in a pandemic. Yes we are still wearing masks and social distancing. And YES, there are still people, maybe our friends or neighbors who are still struggling to keep their rent or mortgage paid and maybe having trouble feeding their children.

Elks Care Elks Share. Yes we do!!

From left: Becky Underhill – Lodge Operation Feed Campaign Chairman, Chuck Moore – Food Pantry Network of Licking County Executive Director, and Dave Underhill – Exalted Ruler of Newark Lodge.

Richard Threadgill 3/29/21 Richard Threadgill 3/29/21

Ohio Elks Association Grand Lodge Reservation Info Published!

Are you thinking of going to the 156th Elks Grand Lodge Convention in Tampa Florida this July? If so, be sure to check out the Ohio Elks Association Reservations Page to book your hotel and to learn about the general convention rules and guidelines. The Ohio Elks Hospitality Room schedule has also been posted.

Richard Threadgill 3/18/21 Richard Threadgill 3/18/21

Newark Elks #391 Donate Welcome Home Baskets to Local Veterans

Newark Elks Lodge #391 provided Welcome Home Baskets for the veterans in the Newark area transitioning from homelessness to housing.

Included in the baskets is everything a vet would need for the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. The items were purchased with funds from the Elks National Veterans Service Commission from their Welcome Home program.

By supplying these items, the veteran can now concentrate on getting his life back on track with work, doctor appointments and education.

Pictured from left: Ryan Shock with Licking County Housing SSVF, Becky Underhill from Lodge 391, and Tim Binckley with Licking County Housing SSVF.

Richard Threadgill 3/9/21 Richard Threadgill 3/9/21

Gallipolis Elks #107 Spreads Drug Awareness to Community

During the January, 2021, Grand Jury assembly in Gallipolis, Oh, PER Walton Brown, Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 Drug Awareness Chairperson, made a drug awareness presentation to the members of the Grand Jury, Sheriff, Prosecutors, and investigating officers. They discussed several of the drug informational handouts provided by the Elks Organization and provided them with 73 packs of material each containing 20 drug awareness handouts.

Richard Threadgill 3/4/21 Richard Threadgill 3/4/21

Ohio Elks Remain Active Educating Kids About the Dangers of Drugs

This past year when most Ohio school districts were closed down, the Ohio State Drug Awareness Program was still active. We scheduled National Elks Drug Awareness Motivational Speaker Ray Lozano (from California) to hold drug awareness webinars to our Ohio school children.

From December through February, Mr. Lozano held webinars in many Ohio school districts which reached 2,886 Ohio students. Also involved were 205 teachers and adult volunteers and 25 Elks volunteers. The program was very well received during these pandemic times for our Ohio school children!

Richard Threadgill 3/1/21 Richard Threadgill 3/1/21

Salem Elks Lodge #305 Distributes Several Youth Awards

Salem Lodge recently presented several youth awards.

Americanism Essay Contest winners were recently presented their plaques.

L-R front row

5-6th grades Division I...

1st- Audrina Devine, 2nd-Luke Stephens, 3rd-Rinishia Lewis

Back row 7-8th grades Division II... 1st-Luke Davis, 2nd-Luke Schell & 3rd-Kaitlyn Jones. Along with Pam Gerace, Americanism Chairman. All were sent on to the next district level for judging. Two individuals were chosen to be sent onto the state level: Division I Luke Stephens and Division II Luke Schell.

Drug Awareness Contest winners were recently presented their plaques for either the Poster or Essay contest L-R

Front row... Essay/Grades 5-6th 1st-William Panteleris, 2nd-Paige Menough, and 3rd-Sean Hoffman (not pictured).

Back row... Poster/Grades 7-8th 1st-Logan Baker, 2nd-Trevor Bails & 3rd-Faith Capron Sanor. Along with Kim Chapman, ER/chairman. All 6 entries were sent onto the NE District to be judged. That committee inturn placed the Poster entries exactly the same: Logan, Trevor and Faith. However, the essays were placed very differently: 1st Paige Menough, 2nd Trevor Bails and 3rd William Panteleris.

Richard Threadgill 3/1/21 Richard Threadgill 3/1/21

OEA Spring Convention Cancellation

Dear Elks,

It seems hard to believe that the last time we gathered together as Ohio Elks was more than a year ago in Newark at the Kollege of Knowledge. At that time, we could not have foreseen what was in store for us over the coming year and beyond. When it was decided Spring Convention had to be cancelled in 2020, we were fairly certain we would meet again in August at Fall Reunion. As the summer progressed and it was deemed necessary to cancel Fall Reunion, we were just sure we’d be together again in April 2021.

Unfortunately, it was determined during the February IGB meeting that it was again going to be in the best interest of all of our members to cancel Spring Convention 2021. Thankfully, we are beginning to see the light at the end of this long dark tunnel Covid has created. However, with the safety of everyone in mind, we just aren’t there yet.

We can look forward to National Convention in July in Tampa, Florida and are very hopeful that by August we will return to some normalcy and we will be able to come together again. What a REUNION that will be!!!

Lugene Ignaffo
State President

Richard Threadgill 2/21/21 Richard Threadgill 2/21/21

Columbus/Grove City Elks Lodge Provides Grant Funds to Aid Vaccine Distribution and to the Bed Brigade

The Columbus/Grove City Elks recently donated funds to two local agencies in order to meet community needs. The Lodge donated $2,000 to the Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency for use in recruiting and training volunteers for their Medical Reserve Corp, made of medical students, to help distribute and administer the COVID-19 vaccines, and for any other COVID-related expenses. As has been well publicized by this point, a major stumbling block to getting the pandemic under control has been building the infrastructure to actually get the shots in the arms of everyone who needs them. By using the Lodge’s donation to recruit members into its Medical Reserve Corp, Franklin County Emergency Management will help meet this need.

The Lodge also donated $1,500 to the local Bed Brigade team to further their work in the community. The Bed Brigade provides beds to people who cannot otherwise afford them. The Brigade builds bed frames and also provides mattresses, pillows, and bedding, which they then transport to the homes of people in need. In normal times, the team members then set up the bed in the home. During the pandemic, the beds are delivered the families, along with instructions on how to set them up. According to the Bed Brigade’s Dan Hoover, the Elks donation paid “for the lumber to build about 40 beds. That’s 40 people up off the floor, 40 children perhaps out of bed with a step mother/father or step sister/brother. 40 people with their own personal, safe place to sleep each night.”

The money for the donations came from a Beacon Grant from the Elks National Foundation (ENF). In 2020, the Lodge received $9,500 in grants from ENF, which it then donated to organizations to meet various community needs during the pandemic

Richard Threadgill 2/21/21 Richard Threadgill 2/21/21

Ohio Elks - Giving Hearts to Veterans

The Ohio Elks VAVS Rep Becky Underhill, using a Charitable Trust Grant, was able to purchase 23 “MADE IN AMERICA!” lap blankets donating them to the veterans at the Chalmers Wylie Ambulatory Care Center in Columbus. The comfort care lap blankets will be given to veterans receiving chemotherapy treatment. After their treatments, the vets can take the lap blankets home with them.

Richard Threadgill 2/6/21 Richard Threadgill 2/6/21

Berea Elks #1815 Helps Maryssa's Mission Foundation During Challenging Times

Berea Elks Lodge #1815 donated $5,500 to Maryssa’s Mission Foundation who help families with medically fragile children, helping with lodging, travel, and services that may otherwise be not be available for families with financial restrictions.

The funds were made possible by Beacon and Spotlight Grants awarded by the Elks National Foundation. The need for these services during covid has been in particularly high demand as fundraising efforts have slowed and access to services has been reduced.

From left: Mitch & Mindy Rivas of Maryssa’s Mission Foundation, RIchard Threadgill, PER Berea Elks Lodge #1815

Richard Threadgill 2/6/21 Richard Threadgill 2/6/21

Cuyahoga Falls - Akron - Barberton Lodge #1923 Donates Hand Sanitizer to Local Schools

Cuyahoga Falls - Akron - Barberton Elks Lodge #1923 donated about $1,800 worth of hand sanitation materials to Cuyahoga Falls High School utilizing an Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant.

Richard Threadgill 2/1/21 Richard Threadgill 2/1/21

Jackson Elks Lodge #466 Presents $2,000 Spotlight Grant to TLC Ministries

Jackson Elks Lodge #466 recently presented a $2,000 Spotlight Grant from the Elks National Foundation to TLC Ministries. The grant money will be used to support TCL Ministries meals program and food pantry. TLC Ministries is a non-profit organization, working with families and individuals to help transform their situation, through its hunger relief programs and various outreach programs.

From left to right Jackson Elks Lodge Secretary Rod Bachtel, Jackson Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler Lynn Denny, TCL Ministries Director Terry Witt and Jackson Elks Head Trustee Keith Denny.

Richard Threadgill 1/21/21 Richard Threadgill 1/21/21

Veteran Presents Flag Flown Over Iraq to Athens Elks Lodge #973

Ryan Williams, son of District Deputy Dave Williams (South Central District) presented this flag and certificate to Athens #973 (Sgt. Williams home lodge) that was flown over Iraq while he was deployed there this past year. This was in appreciation for the support that our Elks lodges give to our veterans and active service personnel.

Richard Threadgill 1/12/21 Richard Threadgill 1/12/21

Gallipolis Elks #107 Supports Local Food Pantries

Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 used a $3,500 Beacon Grant from the Elks National Foundation to support four local food pantries by donating $875 to each pantry.

Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 used a $3,500 Beacon Grant from the Elks National Foundation to support four local food pantries by donating $875 to each pantry. One of the pantries that received funds was Poppy’s Tea Shop and food pantry. Poppy’s serves the homeless and needy by providing them with clothing, hot meals, hot drinks and every two weeks a box of groceries. During the month of December they provide over 1700 hot meals and 300 boxes of food. No one in need is turned away. All of this is made possible because of donations of clothing, food and monies to the pantry.

The other panties that received the benefits of the grant were Grace United Methodist Church, Vinton Baptist Church and Cheshire Baptist Church. Pictured from left to right is Fred Bryant, Secretary Gallipolis Elks and Greg Hall, owner and operator of Poppy’s Tea Shop and food pantry.

From left: Fred Bryant, Secretary Gallipolis Elks and Greg Hall, owner and operator of Poppy’s Tea Shop and food pantry.

Richard Threadgill 1/11/21 Richard Threadgill 1/11/21

Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 Helps Fire Victims With Donation to CERT Team

Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 recently donated $1,250 to the Van Wert County CERT Team to be used to assist fire victims. With this donation they will be able to provide assistance to fire victims within the county.

Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 recently donated $1,250 to the Van Wert County CERT Team to be used to assist fire victims. The monies are from a Gratitude Grant the lodge received from the Elks National Foundation. Gratitude Grants are given to lodges that meet their per-capita goal of donations to the Elks National Foundation.

The Elks National Foundation is a perpetual trust fund established in 1928 by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Contributions to the Foundation are made each year by almost one million Elks and their families and friends from more than 2000 Elks Lodges across the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

With this donation they will be able to provide assistance to fire victims within the county.

Van Wert Elks Lodge is happy to be able to assist the Van Wert County CERT Team with this important assistance they provide.

Pictured left to right are Rick McCoy, Van Wert County EMA Director, Matt Saunier, CERT Team Member and Michael C. Stanley, Lodge Elks National Foundation Chairman.