Berea Elks #1815 Partners With Police To Take Back Drugs
Berea Elks Lodge #1815 partnered with Berea Police and the Drug Enforcement Agency on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Several pounds of unused and/or expired prescription and over-the-counter drugs were collected at the lodge and safely disposed of by the police department.
This event helps to keep drugs out of landfills and our water system, but more importantly it keeps these potentially dangerous drugs away from kids or addicts and off the black market.
The lodge also partnered with Grindstone Elementary school for the PTA trunk-o-treat night bringing the Northeast district’s drug awareness trailer loaded with information and candy. About 300 kids came by to visit the spooky trailer for a treat and information.
Ashland Elks #1360 Spread Drug Awareness To Local Kids
FROM LEFT: Exalted Ruler Mike Fallon, Leading Knight Sam Miller
During the fourth annual costume caper, Ashland Elks #1360 used the opportunity to spread the word about drug awareness. Around 1,000 ghouls and goblins... And Bluey's descended on downtown to fill their truck or treat bags on Halloween. Along with the drug awareness coloring books and pamphlets, the lodge handed out hot chocolate on the cold night and of course candy.
Salem Elks Hosts Trunk-O-Treat, Raising Awareness About The Dangers of Drugs
Pictured are Aiden Gilbert, Jeff Chapman Elroy the Elk and Lonnie Gilbert IV . The boys were escorted by their mother, Katie Gilbert.
Salem Elks Lodge #305 recently held their Annual Trunk-o-Treat. Information regarding Drug Awareness was passed out as well as lots of candy. Elroy the Elk, the Drug Awareness Program mascot was on hand to give everyone a high five.
Van Wert Elks #1197 Helps Local Volunteer Fire Department
Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 recently donated $881.00 to the Wren Volunteer Fire Department. The department used the monies to purchase a Streamlight Portable Scene Light with AC/DC charger.
FROM LEFT with the new piece of equipment is Michael R. Marchek, Wren Fire Chief and Lodge Community Service Grant Chairman Michael C. Stanley.
This will be used to assist in lighting up a fire or vehicle crash scene at night. Deployed at a fire scene, the light can be used to light up the drop tank fill area, or light the area of ground from the trucks to the structure fire to prevent injuries from other equipment or terrain.
The monies are distributed by the Ohio Elks Association in the form of a Community Service Grant. The Ohio Elks Association receives monies each year from the Elks National Foundation, a perpetual trust fund established in 1928 by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Contributions to the Foundation are made each year by close to one million Elks and their families and friends from more than 2,000 Elks Lodges across the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.
To date, thru the Community Service Grants, Van Wert Elks Lodge 1197 has distributed $36,524.72 back into Van Wert County to assist the city, county and villages.
Van Wert Elks Lodge is proud to be able to assist the Wren Fire Department with this important project.
Willoughby-Cleveland Elks #18 & Emblem Club Support Local Veterans in Need
Willoughby-Cleveland Elks Lodge #18 and Emblem Club #508 assembled our "troops" to help homeless Veterans in our surrounding communities. In the back of that box truck are over 120 bags, each of which contains sweat pants and tops, longjohn tops and bottoms, hats, gloves and socks.
These will be distributed to area veterans outreach agencies, who will then put them in the hands of Veterans who may be homeless. We should also give a big tip of the antlers to Joe Longo from Longos Pizzeria and Pastinas Restaurant for letting us use the truck at no charge, and to Mary from WorkSmart in Willowick for helping us purchase the clothing at a substantial discount. So much of a discount, that we will be purchasing jackets as well for distrubution.
And of course a huge thank you to Lisa Kreischer and Moria Fee for all of their efforts on the Gary Luster Memorial Run the past few years, without who's generous donation we would not be able to reach a much more broader base of those in need. This is the first step in this project, we will be assessing the bags in the very near future to prepare them for distribution.
Willoughby-Cleveland Elks #18 Support Local Treatment Center
Pictured are a representative of the facility and Past Exalted Ruler Michael Felice who is also a dual member of Emblem.
Willoughby-Cleveland Elks Lodge #18 and Emblem #508 stopped at Highland Springs and dropped off over $375 worth of puzzle books and playing cards off to the Activities Department for patients to use during free time.
Highland Springs is a short term, drug and alcohol addiction treatment center that also offers mental health counseling to persons in crisis.
Alliance Elks #467 Celebrates Member of the Order for 76 Years!
Alliance Elks Lodge #467’s Exalted Ruler Amy Gabelt celebrates “Old Timer Night” with their oldest member active member Frank Woolf who has been a member for 76 years. That’s nearly half the time the Order has been in existence!
New Philadelphia Elks #510 Supports Local Police Department
Jeffrey Warner of New Philadelphia Elks Lodge #510 recently met with Chief Paul Bantum of the Dover Police Department. As an expression of the good thingsElks do, he presented Dover Police with an Ohio Elks Association Community Service Grant of $1,000.
The check will go towards the funding of computers for each of the police cruisers.
Salem Elks #305 "Feeds the Team"
Salem Elks Lodge #305 had another successful "Feed the Team" event at Salem High School.
A total of 80 players and coaches enjoyed pasta, meatballs, salad, bread & butter, and brownies.
Thank you Drew Green for mixing up the sauce, Farb for packing up the bread & butter, Drew for packing up the brownies, and Chris Hill & Randy Malmsberry for helping with the pasta.
Huge thank you to the ladies who made brownies for dessert: Deb Emelo, Mickie Greenamyer, Luanne McCartney and Kim Chapman.
Van Wert Elks #1197 Hosts Veterans For Spaghetti Dinner
Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197, Brecently held a free spaghetti dinner for all the veterans in the Van Wert County area.
A nice group of Veterans enjoyed a free dinner and the chance to catch up with their fellow veterans on this evening.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks has a motto “As long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them”. Van Wert Lodge is proud to be able to sponsor this free event for our veterans as a way of saying “Thank You” for your service to our country.
Gallipolis Elks #107 Spread Drug Awareness Across Region
From Left: Ollie Tipple and PER Walton Brown
From Left: PER Walton Brown, Tammy Church, Amy Rupe and in the front row are 5 Child Care students.
Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 Drug Awareness Chairman, PER Walton Brown met with Ollie Tipple to discuss the needs of the Court Street Ministries. The Elks Lodge provided 100 Drug Awareness packets to be used at the Ministry to future their education about Drug Awareness.
From Left: Cassandra Rexroad and Megan Haskins, employees of Health Recovery Services
PER Brown also met with Tammy Church, owner of T J's Child Care. The Elks Lodge provided 80 drawstring cinch bags with each containing coloring books, crayons and Drug Awareness literature. Each packet contains 24 items. Additionally provided was 250 coloring books and 250 packs of crayons to help the kids out with their daily activities.
Additionally, PER Brown met with Natasha Sperry who is the Prevention Specialist working with Health Recovery Services in Gallia, Jackson and Meigs counties. The Elks Lodge provided 1,000 coloring books and 1,000. Red Ribbon pamphlets to be used in the Gallia County schools.
Newark Elks #391 Bring Drug Awareness To Local Schools
Newark Elks Lodge #391 together with the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) were invited to join with 370 Newark City School students in the After School Program on Thursday, October 5, 2023. The purpose of the assembly was to kick off Red Ribbon Month and to bring students drug awareness information.
Lodge chairperson Becky Underhill, joined by Exalted Rulter Kathy Wise and PER Dave Underhill, shared information about the DAP Poster, Essay, and Video contests open to students in grades 3 though 12.
Not wanting to leave the 2nd graders out, Becky created a lodge contest for those kids giving them a chance to be a part of the contest and to win a prize. The committee chose a picture from the DAP coloring book to have the kids color. Those pictures will be returned for judging at the lodge in February along with other contest entries. A small dollar amount was reserved in the award budget for the winner in the 2nd grade category.
Joining Newark Lodge were two agents from the DEA giving the Red Ribbon History, talking about Halloween candy safety, and giving basic drug awareness information. They also brought some of their equipment to show the kids.
After a brief question and answer session, each student received a packet put together by the lodge of age related DAP items and information and a Red Ribbon. Teacher resources packets were also shared with the teachers in the After School Program.
Berea Elks #1815 Shines a Light on The Road to Hope
The Jack Muhall Center located on Cleveland’s west side houses 40 men (many of whom are veterans) recovering from drug and alcohol addictions. Now part of the Road to Hope House, the center provides an abstinence-based, twelve step environment within which the addicted person receives the support, guidance and faith necessary to become a productive member of our society, while living in accordance with a regimen of daily sobriety.
From Left: Michael Plas, Men’s Program Director, Exalted Ruler Danielle Mahany, and Aubrey Oliver, Assistant Executive Director.
Personal Responsibility is at the heart of their program. Residents are required to have a sponsor, attend AA meetings and are charged a nominal monthly fee, but must be gainfully employed and able to pay their own way.
The expectation is that residents develop and hone the discipline and attributes necessary to successfully integrate back into the community and leave the facility after a relatively short period of time.
Berea Elks Lodge #1815 donated $3,000 to the center using funds from an Elks National Foundation (ENF) Gratitude Grant. The monies will be used to purchase a new commerical-grade refrigerator that the center is badly in need of. A number of coffee makers and cleaning supplies were also donated.
Ohio Elks "Spread The Word" To Save Lives
The Ohio Elks, in partnership with the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), is again using billboards to “Spread the Word”.
Our two new Drug Awareness billboard displays have been up the month of September. They are located in the Cincinnati area on the Martin Luther King Highway, one on each side of I-71.
There is a high school near one of the boards and a community college near the other. The sign company has estimated the over 765,000 people will see the billboards. The perfect location for young eyes to see our message.
Gallipolis Elks #107 Donates $7,000 to Local Food Programs
From LEFT Bev Young, Terry Burnett, Grace Pastor Ray Kane and ER Mike Null.
Exalted Ruler Mike Null, Gallipolis Elks 107, presented a Lodge donation of $2,000 to the Grace Methodist Church food pantry. The funds were made available from the Spotlight Grant from the Elks National Foundation.
Exalted Ruler Mike also presented a Lodge donation of $2,000 along with $3,000 from the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to the Gallia County Snack Pack Program.
From Left: Karen Bryant, ER Mike Null, Mary Sayre, Nancy Blevins, Patty Boster, Cathy Gholstein, Nancy Smith, Carol Norris, Henry Dillon and Kay Adkins.
Circleville Elks #77 Celebrates 100 Year Building Anniversary
From Left: Wes Riley and Mayor Don McIlroy
Circleville Elks Lodge #77 celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of their building, the Elks Home, on September 16, 2023. Wes Riley, Exalted Ruler, presided over the ceremony. Guest speakers included Howard Honaker, District Deputy GER, as well as Don McIlroy, Mayor of Circleville, who is also a member of Elks Lodge #77.
Howard Honaker, District Deputy GER
ER Riley presented both speakers with a commemorative coin that the Lodge had struck for the special occasion. Mayor McIlroy proclaimed September 16, 2023, as Circleville Elks Lodge 77 Day. The Circleville Pumpkin Show Band provided the music for the ceremony. The Lodge hosted an Open House following the ceremony for members and guests.
Cuyahoga Falls-Akron-Barberton Lodge #1923 Raises More Than $2,000 For Veterans
Cuyahoga Falls-Akron-Barberton Elks Lodge #1923 held our 3rd Annual Cornhole Tournament Saturday September 9th benefitting local Veterans and Active Military non-profits and organizations.
We had taped off the parking lot, had over 30 players, tons of spectators, a DJ outside, Sueritos cooking their awesome foods, raffle baskets, and a ton of fun. In the end were able to raise over $2,000 in one day which will be distributed organizations helping our military.
Van Wert Elks #1197 Honors Lodge Elk of the Year
Van Wert Elks Lodge No. 1197 recently recognized Bruce A. Davis as Van Wert Lodge “Elk of the Year” for the 2022--2023 Lodge Year. Bruce was presented with a special certificate issued by the Grand Lodge and signed by the Grand Exalted Ruler Bruce A. Hidley.
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. Bruce is always willing to do anything he can to help the lodge. He is the main organizer for several fundraisers for the lodge and helps out with other events as well.
Gallipolis Elks #107 Brings Drug Awareness to Local Academy
Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 Drug Awareness Chairman, PER Walton Brown met with Tiffany Marcum, the Director of French City Academy. The Elks Lodge provided 80 drawstring cinch bags with each containing coloring books, crayons and Drug Awareness literature. Each packet contains 24 items. The Elks Lodge also committed to providing additional coloring books and crayons to help the kids out with their daily activities.
FROM LEFT: Walton Brown, 8 students and Tiffany Marcum.
Willoughby-Cleveland Elks #18 Help Wickliffe Police With Defensive Tactical Training
From Left: Est. Loyal Knight Michelle Zayakosky PER Valerie Lawver Exalted Ruler Jeffrey E. Romito PER Brian Cook PER Bob Bell Ptl. Merrifield woth K-9 Bane Trustee David Fye Est. Lecturing Knight Eileen Tucci, Lt. McCaffery, dispatcher Sherry Brzeski ( wife of member Keith Brzeski woth her sons Adam and Ben.
Exalted Ruler Jeff Romito of Willoughby-Cleveland Elks Lodge #18 invited representatives of the Wickliffe Police Department to the lodge tonight to present a Community Service Fund Grant for $1,000 from the Ohio Elks Association which will be used for defensive tactics training.