Willoughby-Cleveland Elks #18 "ReCycle" Bikes for Veterans
We met With Randy again today, he helped us present another "ReCycled" bicycle to a U.S. Navy Veteran right here in Lake County. We also supplied a lock for the bicycle.
We also presented Randy with a check for $400 to help offset the cost for a picnic he is having for Veterans on his property in Geagua County. Funds for this donation and the lock came from The Gary Luster Memorial Motorcycle Run, who has asked us to help put the procceds from that run, to use in assisting Armed Forces Veterans.
Salem Elks #305 Presents Check To Local Cerebral Palsy Organization
The Ohio Elks Association's Cerebral Palsy Board awarded Robert Bycroft $1,600. The check was presented to Andrew Garver, principal of Robert Bycroft by Wayne Gorby, Exalted Ruler of Salem Elks Lodge #305 . This will help to improve the learning experience for their students.
Jackson Elks #466 Bring Drug Awareness to Local Kids
Jackson Elks Lodge #466 members and Elroy the Elk assisted the Jackson County SPARC Organization on Prevention Day (ROCK THIS LIFE) at the County Fair. They distributed 251 packets containing coloring books, crayons, and Drug Awareness pamphlets. Pictured are Elroy (Elks Member Tom Stewart) and 3 young attendees.
Gallipolis Elks #107 Spread Drug Awareness In Community
Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 assisted the Gallia County Sheriff Department and the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, in Bridge Day Bidwell. The Bridge Day event focused on outreach through making connections with our prevention, treatment and recovery providers to raise awareness regarding addition in our community. Pictured are DAP Chairman, PER Walton Brown handing out Drug Awareness packets containing coloring books, crayons, and drug awareness pamphlets to children and parents. A total of 123 packets were given out. In the background, standing, is Chris Gruber of the Gallia County Sheriff department.
Van Wert Elks #1197 Golf Committee Supports Multiple Local Charities
The Golf Committee from Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197, recently donated $500 to the Wayne Trace Local Schools Music Department and another $500 to the Ohio City Volunteer Fire Department.
The Elks are known for their support of villages and small towns not only within Van Wert County but across the nation as well.
FROM Left: Eric McCracken, Lodge Member, Cameron Roehm, Ohio City Fire Department, Brandon Bowen, Ohio City Fire Department Chief and Steve Boley, golf committee member.
From Left: Paul Cucciarre, Golf committee member; Caitln Schmidt, Grover Hill Elementary Music Teacher and Mike Marchek.
Kenton Elks #157 Helps 4-H Members Attend Camp
Kenton Elks Lodge #107 PER, Elisa Umbaugh Presents Check to Amanda Raines of 4-H.
Kenton Elks Lodge #157 PER, Elisa Umbaugh, presented a check for $3500 from the lodge’s Elks National Foundation (ENF) Gratitude Grant this year to Amanda Raines, Hardin County OSU Extension 4-H director. The grant monies will be used to supplement camp registration fee payments for 35 county 4-H members to attend the 2023 4-H Camp Ohio.
Athens Elks #973 Supports Local Veterans Treatment Court
Athens Elks Lodge #973 presented the Athens Treatment Veterans Court with $1,800 in Athens area business gift cards. The money was made available through an Elks National Foundation (ENF) Beacon Grant.
This program is designed to assist Veterans involved in the criminal justice system to obtain treatment for any mental health and substance abuse issues, remain sober, and remain law abiding citizens, all while taking charge back of their life.
From Left: Athens Elks, Rich Russell, Jim Balding, Ernie Perry and Judge George McCarthy.
Gallipolis Elks #107 Raises More Than $35,000 For Member Struck With ALS
The family, friends and the Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 sponsored a benefit for a Gallipolis Elks Member who had been diagnosed with ALS. The event was held at the Gallipolis Elks Farm to raise money for medical expenses and support equipment for the member's home. Items were donated by Elks members, the community and local businesses to be auctioned off along with monetary donations. Our community overwhelmingly responded to the task and raised over $35,000!!
Athens Elks #973 Donates PB&J's To Local Children's Services
From Left: Tom Donnley, Rich Russell, Ernie Perry, and Russ Tenney from the Athens Elks Lodge 973.
Athens Elk's Lodge #973 donated $750 dollars worth of peanut butter and jelly to Athens County Children's Services. The goal of this program is to address food instability, and to provide kids in the area with everything they need to make themselves something simple to eat while area Schools are not in session.
Gallipolis Elks #107 Delivers Cerebral Palsy Grant To Gallia County MRDD
Presenting the grant to Laura Johnson, right, is ER Mike Null. Kay Davis is not present.
Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 presented a Cerebral Palsy grant checks to Laura Johnson, Director Guiding Hand School, Gallia County Board of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities (MR/DD) and Kay Davis, Director of Education, Meigs County Board of MR/DD.
The grants, which totaled $14,600, were provided by the Ohio Elks Association Cerebral Palsy Fund Board.
Ohio Elks Drug Awareness Chairperson Awarded Kent Gade Rookie of the Year!
2023 National Drug Awareness Rookie of the Year.
Pictured is Elks National Director for the Drug Awareness Program, Bill Bryan and State DAP Chairperson, Becky Underhill.
Becky Underhill, Ohio State Drug Awareness Chairperson, received the Kent Gade Rookie of the Year award from Bill Bryan, National Director of the Drug Awareness Program.
The award and a plaque was given to Becky at the DAP workshop during Grand Lodge in Minneapolis, MN on Sunday, July 2, 2023.
Becky believes that it is worth all the hard work if just one life is saved or one child is educated about drug awareness. She will continue to find ways to help the districts and lodges throughout Ohio to inform their communities on the Elks Drug Awareness Program.
The Kent Gade Rookie of the Year award is given to a 1st year state chairperson who has gone above and beyond to help their state’s lodges get the word out about drug awareness.
Ohio Wins Record 4th National Championship In a Row!
At Grand Lodge Convention in Minneapolis, MN, Kenton Elks Lodge #157 represented Ohio and won the team national ritual championship for an unprecedented 4th straight year! Congratulations to the Kenton Elks #157 ritual team and their coaches!
Gallipolis Elks #107 Promotes Drug Awareness Program
Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 assisted Gallia County Hope project at Silver Screen VII providing free Summer movies for kids.
Seated is DAP Chairman, PER Walton Brown, handing out packets containing coloring books, crayons, and drug awareness pamphlets. A total of 70 kids received packets.
Willoughby - Cleveland Elks #18 Works To End Child Hunger
Tonight we met with Meredith Everett, Meredith is the founder of "End 68 Hours of Hunger" here in Lake County. Sixty-eight hours represents the time from when a child leaves school on Friday until they go back on Monday.
From Left: Jeff Romito, Exalted Ruler, Meridith Baxter, Dianna Passwaiter Ohio State Association' Emblem Club Past State President, Susan Knight, Past Exalted Ruler and Mary Kay Neff, Emblem Club #508 Secretary.
End 68 Hours of Hunger distributes bags of healthy and nutritious food item to children throughout Lake County during the school year to children who may be experiencing food distress. Ideally, these bags will help them navigate the weekend with food items to help combat hunger. We are pleased to have been able to present her with a check for $2,000. to use towards this project. These funds came available to us through the Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant.
The donation doesn't end our obligation, we have committed to helping assemble these bags once the school year resumes this coming fall, and we will be looking for some "special help", consider stepping up when the call goes out.
The Lodge first became aware of End 68 Hours of Hunger when Dianna was State President for The Ohio State Association of Emblem Clubs. We couldn’t be happier to be associated with End 68 Hours of Hunger or Emblem.
Together, we can make a difference.
Van Wert Elks #1197 Announces Legacy Scholarship Winner
Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 have announced the awarding of a $4,000 Legacy Award Scholarship by the Elks National Foundation to Kyra Welch. The Legacy Award Scholarships are awarded by the Elks National Foundation and are only available to children and grandchildren of Elk Members. Ms. Welch graduated this spring from Van Wert High School and will be attending this fall Wittenberg University and will be majoring in education and minoring in exercise science. She also will be playing basketball for Wittenberg.
During high school Kyra was a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, Spanish Club, Service Pack, VW Athletic Sportsmanship Committee, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and participated in Cross Country, Football and Basketball Cheer, Competition Cheer and was a scholar track athlete.
Kyra is a member of the First Presbyterian Church. She is a competitive dancer at Kim Hohman’s Dance Works, member of the 4H Bunny Hoppers and served as president of the club. She was Jr. Fair Rabbit Queen. She was a volunteer bell ringer for the Salvation Army and is a NPAC Volunteer.
Kyra is the daughter of Robert and Jacque Welch.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is only second to the United States Government in the number of scholarships awarded each year. Van Wert Lodge is proud to have been a sponsor for Kyra during this competition.
Van Wert Elks #1197 Supports Local Fire Department.
The Golf Committee from Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 recently donated $500.00 to the Convoy Volunteer Fire Department.
The Elks are known for their support of villages and small towns not only within Van Wert County but across the nation as well. These funds will enable the department to make purchases that otherwise would not have been available.
Pictured, left to right are Brent Gibson, golf committee member, Dale Ball, Convoy Fire Department and David Kerns, golf committee member.
Conneaut Elks #256 Awards Scholarships to Local Students
Conneaut Elks Lodge #256 awarded two $1,000 scholarships to local students from the Eddie Kalmer's Memorial Golf Outing hosted by the lodge each year. Mikayla Thompson who will be attending Kent State Ashtabula and Riley Ferl who will be attending Ohio State were awarded the scholarships at the lodge.
From Left: Mikayla Thompson, Riley Ferl, and Exalted Ruler Dan Blank holding a photo of Eddie Kalmer.
Newark Elks #391 Honor Veterans on Flag Day
Flag Carriers Picture back row left to right: Brad Farnsworth, Jim Wagner, Harry Yockum, John Ridenbaugh PER, Bud Carlson. Front row left to right: Exalted Ruler Kathy Wise, Norm Morrison, Kenneth (Gabby) Warner, Steve Melroy, Larry Poulton, Christy Annarino, and Larry Thomas PER.
Nothing fills your heart with patriotism more than a Flag Day event. The Newark Elks Lodge #391 not only celebrated along with members and guests our nations Flag, but also our veterans. The flag history was read and the flags carried by our lodge veterans.
After the close of the program, we had our Newark Elks veterans gather for a photo. In the photo are veterans from WWII through Desert Storm. Each veteran was given a special Newark Elks Veteran pin with a heartfelt “thank you for your service” from Sarah Oneson, our Lodge Veteran Chairperson.
We wouldn’t have Old Glory without these men and women.
Ohio Elks Celebrate US Army's 248th Birthday at Ohio Veterans Home
Pictured are three Army Veterans just a few who attended.
On Wednesday June 14th (Flag Day!) the Elks hosted a 248th Army birthday party for OVH Veterans who proudly served this branch. This is one of the five birthday parties we will host this year thanks to the “Boost Grant” we were awarded from Grand Lodge.
Luckily we had a beautiful Spring day so the festivities were held outside in the pavilion that was decorated in an Army theme, balloons, and small gifts. They thought it was really cool!
A delicious picnic lunch of hamburgs, hot dogs, baked beans, macaroni salad with all the trimmings, coffee, and punch was served to the Veterans by volunteers and staff members.
Happy Birthday wishes were given and of course can’t have a party without cake, so a delicious homemade chocolate & white cake was served to all.
The Veterans were very appreciative and are honored that Flag Day is celebrated the same day.
Toledo-Sylvania Elks #53 Sends Tanks To Ohio Veterans Home
New adventure for Veterans!
Pictured: All four tanks displayed along with Eric and John who assembled the tanks.. Joined by two Veterans.
A request from the Ohio Veterans Home asking for 4 new tanks was answered by Toledo-Sylvania Elks Lodge #53. Okay, so they are small, remotely powered tanks, but one in particular was the kind used in WWII!
Each one has a steel gearbox, metal tracks 360’ degree rotating turret, high power rechargeable battery, radio control system. The Veterans plan to have “Guy Stuff” competitions.