Putting a Spotlight on Veteran Homelessness, Athens Elks #391 Makes Difference

Athens Elks Lodge #973 purchased $2,000 worth of supplies for area veterans and homeless using an Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant. These items will be handed out on October 1st during Athens County Stand down event.

Pictured from left to right are Elk's members Rich and Donna Russell, Cindy and Ernie Perry, George McCarthy and Todd Zorn.

Newark Elks #391 Welcome Home Veterans With Baskets

Newark Elks Lodge #391 put together five “Welcome Home Baskets” using the funds available from the Elks National Veterans Service Commission.

Each basket contained enough kitchen supplies for the veteran to cook a meal, bathroom supplies including toiletries, a pillow, sheets and a blanket, and cleaning supplies. Lodge members donated backpacks, coffee, hats, and a throw blanket.

The baskets and backpacks were given to the SSVF (veteran division) of the Licking County Coalition on Housing, Tim Binkley Case Manager.

This is our 5th year using the Welcome Home program from the Elks National Veterans Service Commission and our lodge is making a difference!

Pictured from left to right is; Esquire, Becky Underhill; LC Coalition on Housing, SSVF Case Manager, Tim Binkley; Exalted Ruler, Dave Underhill; and Lodge Veteran Chair, Tim Hamilton.

Van Wert Elks #1197 Honor Elk of the Year

Van Wert Lodge No. 1197, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, recently recognized Debra Laudick as Van Wert Lodge “Elk of the Year” for the 2020-2021 Lodge Year.   Deb was presented with a special certificate issued by the Grand Lodge and signed by the Grand Exalted Ruler Paul R. Ryan.

The “Elk Of The Year” is awarded by a Lodge to one of its members who perform extra service “above and beyond” to the Lodge and its charitable works.

From left: Mary Weisman, Exalted Ruler for Van Wert Lodge for 2020-2021 and Debra Laudick.

Gallipolis Elks #107 Help Battle Hunger in Local Community

Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 used $2,500 from the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to support Poppy’s Tea Shop and Food Pantry and the remaining $1,000 for the Grace United Methodist Church 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 provided over 1,700 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.  Pictured from left to right are Greg Hall, owner and operator of Poppy’s Tea Shop and food pantry, Fred Bryant, Secretary Gallipolis Elks.

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

Using State and National Grants, Lorain Elks #1301 Supports Local Community

Lorain Elks Lodge #1301 completed shopping for Mercy Resource Mothers utilizing a $2,500 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant. Funds from the grant shopped to restock their pantry with needed items. Car seats, baby gates, food, formula, sanitizing supplies are just some of the items used to benefit those that have little or no means to afford these items. The lodge shopped with $500 per month from May to September of this year for these items. This is just one of many things done by our Lodge this year alone.

Using a $750 Ohio Elks Association Community Service Grant the Lodge was also able to purchase a Quick Response Kit and Crib Toter Kit. These items are utilized in stabilizing vehicles that are involved in MVA's ( Motor Vehicle Accidents). With this purchase/donation both fire trucks are now fully equipped to respond to MVA's.

Jackson Elks #466 Supports Local Charity Group

Jackson Elks Lodge #466 donated a $3,500 Elks National Foundation (ENF) Beacon Grant to TLC Ministries in Wellston, OH. This Grant will be used to support there many charitable events. There will be a Gleaning Field Food Pantry Day, Senior Commodities Day, November & December Community Dinner. They also are doing a after school snack program for area schools and a backpack program for the kids in our community.

From left: Terry Witt of TLC Ministries and from Jackson Elks Lodge#466 Mary Bachtel Exalted Ruler.

Ohio Elks State Endowment Continues to Grow

The following is the list of donors contributing to the OEA Endowment Fund for the month of August:

Ohio River Valley #231
Toledo #53
Willoughby Cleveland #18
Painesville #549
Wellsville #1040
Ohio Elks Advisory Council
Upper Sandusky #83
Marysville #1130
Lima #54
Troy #833
Bellevue #1013
Columbus-Grove City #37
Kenton #157
Ohio River Valley #231
(Rose Durant in memory of PSP Jeff Durant)
Greenville #1139
The Kimmel Corporation

Thank you for your contributions. To learn more about the endowment and how your lodge can contribute, go to https://ohioelks.com/endowment

Lima Elks #54 Honors Local Eagle Scout

Lima Elks Lodge #54 recognized Will Neff from Bluffton Troup #256 during his Eagle Scout Court of Honor. The award consists of the American Flag and the Eagle Scout Certificate framed for hanging.

Congratulations to Will on his accomplishments.

Berea Elks #1815 Helps Police Department Keep Community Safer

Berea Elks Lodge #1815 presented a $750 Ohio Elks Association Community Service Grant to the Berea Police Department to purchase specialized window hammers, seat belt cutters, and tree lawn signs to encourage safe driving speeds in our neighborhoods. 

From left: Berea Elks member (and Berea Police Officer) Pat Greenhill, Chief of Berea Police Dan Clark, and PER Richard Threadgill

Chillicothe Elks #52 Helps Local Fire Department Keep Seniors Safe

Beth Montgomery, grant coordinator for Chillicothe Elks Lodge #52, presenting Ohio Elks Association $750 Community Service Grant to Susie Gillfillan, Fire Inspector and other members of the Chillicothe Fire Department to help support the Senior Home Information Program by providing safety equipment to Senior Community Members such as smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguishers, flashlights and bath mats.

Gallipolis Elks #107 Spread Drug Awareness In Community

Kids love free stuff and what a better way to get Drug Awareness materials into their homes. On September 1, 2021, PER Walton Brown at Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107, met with Tanya Fulks, who works at French City Academy which is a day care center for children. Tanya received several knapsacks, each filled with coloring books, crayons, pencils, sunglasses and various Drug Awareness pamphlets.

Ashland Elks #1360 Golf Outing Raises More Than $1,000 For Local Charity

Ashland Elks Lodge #1360 hosted its almost annual golf outing. This year the event was held to raise money for two charities: Cerebral Palsy (The Ohio Elks major project) and Safe Haven (Ashland’s shelter for victims of domestic violence). Each charity had their own special hole on the course. The Safe Haven hole had teams pay money to move up tee boxes. The Cerebral Palsy hole had teams pay money to tee off with antique clubs that didn’t count as a stroke. There were also 50/50’s and beverages by donation to help raise the rest of the money. In all, over $1,000 was raised to support the charities, with the money divided between the two organizations.

From left:  Safe Haven Director Rebecca Jentes, Leading Knight Chris Box, Golf Chairman PER Michael Fallon

Columbus - Grove City Elks #37 Helps Local Food Pantry

Columbus-Grove City Elks #37 is pleased to announce a donation of $2,940 to the Grove City Food Pantry to help the pantry address hunger challenges in the community. 

Pictured is Don Swogger from Food Pantry with Sharon Cooper, ER.

Marysville Elks #1130 Helps Local Veterans

Marysville Elks Lodge #1130 members donated 69 pairs of men’s and women’s underwear and socks to needy veterans. The lodge puts on a dinner every year for this purpose.

The socks and underwear were given to the veterans at Chalmers Wylie Care Center in Columbus. The Care Center receives from 5 to 10 requests a week from needy veterans for items of clothing. Receiving the underwear will be a big help in filling this need.

Please contact Ohio/SC District VAVS Rep Becky Underhill at underhillbecky1@gmail.com or 740-404-0435 if your lodge would like to make a donation to the needy veterans in the Columbus area through Chalmers Wylie Care Center.

High on the list of needed items right now is sweats pants and sweat shirts for both men and women. Sizes large – XX large.

Thank you Marysville 1130 members for your donations!!

Maumee-Bowling Green Elks #1850 Helps Fight Hunger in Community

Maumee-Bowling Green Elks Lodge #1850 used a $2,500 Elks National Foundation (ENF) Gratitude Grant for COVID relief and fighting hunger and food insecurity in NW Ohio. The money was given to Under One Roof Food Pantry in Maumee, Ohio.

Under One Roof Food Pantry is run by a volunteer staff, and an advisory board oversee the pantry, with board representatives from partnering agencies, which include Calvary Church; Cass Road Baptist Church; First Church of Christ, Scientist; Faith Community United Church of Christ; First Presbyterian Church; St. Joseph’s Catholic Church; the St. Luke’s Hospital Foundation, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. 

The food pantry is located at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Maumee, at 310 Elizabeth St.   

The pantry serves almost 200 individuals every month, with nonperishable items donated from various organizations, including churches, individuals, and Seagate Food Bank, with perishable items coming from the Food Bank and some of the fresh vegetables coming from the church’s garden.

Clients receive food and other personal hygiene items which are distributed based on income, with a protocol that follows federal government guidelines.  Those in need are instructed to call the center and an application is made over the phone, after which appointments are set for individuals to come get their food and other items.

Pictured left to right: Ron Finn, from Under One Roof Food Pantry Advisory Board; Sherry Jaquay, Maumee-BG Elks Treasurer and Charity Chairperson; and Mark Krebs from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (Under One Roof Partner Organization) and Maumee-BG Elk member.

Athens Elks #973 Makes Back To School Better For Local Kids

Athens Elk's Lodge #973 purchased 1,800 in school supplies and packed almost 60 backpacks for area schools.  Money was made available through the Elks National Foundation (ENF) Beacon grant. 

From left: SEOYM Jim Salazman, and from Athens Elk's Lodge 973 Rich Russell, Tom Donnley, Ernie Perry, Tim Lairson,  Ryan Burk and Todd Zorn.

Newark Elks #391 Educating Kids at Rally in the Ally

Every year, Newark City Schools holds a “Rally in the Ally” for underprivileged and at risk middle and high school students. Available at the Rally are school supplies, backpacks, uniform shirts and pants, and hygiene items as well as giveaway items such as bicycles all supplied by different businesses and fraternal lodges in the area.

This year, along with the uniform shirts, the Newark Elks Lodge #391 provided Drug Awareness items to the students and parents. The kids were handed bags with all the DAP pamphlets, coloring books for younger siblings, pencils and bookmarks inside. The kids also received DAP wrist bands, flying rings, lanyards, and the big item of the day, sunglasses.

The sunglasses went on right away (it was a very sunny day!) and the flying rings went on their heads like a crown! Once one kid started the “fashion statement” others followed immediately. There were kids all over the place with DAP red flying rings on their heads.

It was surprising to see how quickly the kids followed each other with the rings. It is our hope that we can educate enough kids about the dangers of drugs that they will again “follow” each other and NOT do drugs!

Berea Elks #1815 Making Back To School Even Better

Berea Elks Lodge #1815 delivered 100 custom backpacks today to Berea-Midpark Middle School. Each backpack was stuffed with all the school supplies needed for students entering the 5th grade. In all, just over $5,500 in school supplies were donated to help reduce the financial burden on families with kids going back to school in just a few weeks.

The backpacks were delivered in the school’s colors and emblazoned with the Berea Titans logo.

The project was made possible by utilizing an Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant combined with a Spotlight Grant. The lodge intends to make this an ongoing project for years to come.

From left: Berea Elks members, Bill Maloney, Lenny Oliveri, Lora Volpe, Jeff Coyle, Dianna Threadgill, Eric Banks, with Berea-Midpark Middle School Principal Nick Discenza.

South Central District Sponsors Fishing Outing With Local VA

South Central District Elks sponsored a fishing outing July 23, 2021 for 20 plus Veterans from the Chillicothe Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Veteran’s Administration Social workers provided care and assistance with different tasks during the afternoon. Fishing equipment was furnished and lots of help was provided for each deserving Veteran.  Food consisted of sub sandwiches, water, soft drinks, chips and cookies.

The fellowship was good and a wonderful afternoon was had by all.

Maumee-Bowling Green Elks #1850 Present Cerebral Palsy Check To Sunshine Communities

Maumee-Bowling Green Elks Lodge #1850 presented an $11,000 Ohio Elks Association Cerebral Palsy Fund check to the Sunshine Communities, Inc., a 501(c)3 in Northwest Ohio that helps people of all ages with developmental disabilities. This will help fund a roll-in shower and other projects that will help improve the lives of the residents.  The Maumee-BG Lodge and Sunshine Communities have been partnering up for over 20 years, as part of the Cerebral Palsy State of Ohio Elks major project.   

Exalted Ruler Larry “Bubba” Stadler (center) presents check to Sunshine Communities staff.