Lima Elks #54 Sponsor Youth Symphony Orchestra
Lima Elks Lodge #54 sponsored the Lima Symphony Orchestra Young People's Concert. Approximately 3,000 students from 7 counties attended. The concert was directed by guest conductor Karl Hirzer and featured world-renowned electric violin soloists Tracy Silverman.
This sponsorship of the Lima Symphony Orchestra Young People's Concert from Lima Lodge #54 was made possible from the Lima Fifty Four Athletic and Scholastic Fund.
Hamilton Elks #93 Help Local Veteran House
Are a few miles up the road from the Cincinnati V.A., Where the Fisher House facility provides lodging for V.A. hospital patients and their families. Some of these patients are experiencing housing insecurity, so the Lode opted for the Adopt-A-Haven project plan under the Spotlight Grant from the Elks National Foundation (ENF), which makes veteran transitional living facilities better places to stay.
At the Fisher House , the to-do-list included fixing the bricks on the patio, washing the patio floor and steps, tearing down, and replacing the vegetable gardens, trimming trees, and assembling rocking chairs and storage cabinets. About a dozen Elks jumped into action to accomplish these tasks, purchasing supplies, and putting them to use. By the end of the day, their efforts resulted in a refurbished space for the veterans and their families.
"One of the biggest successes is all the Elk volunteers that came together to work on this project," says Grant Coordinator Don Bickel. " the other
success is that we do have two spaces where veterans and their families can go: the patio and the balcony. Both spaces are relaxing and peaceful for meditation or just plain quiet time to reflect on the day's events.
Van Wert Elks #1197 Announce Students of the Month
Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 selected Trace C. Klausing and Grace Brickner, seniors at Lincolnview High School as the recipients of the Student of the Month for October.
Students are nominated by their high schools to receive this award. Each Student of the Month receives a monetary donation along with a certificate from the Van Wert Elks Lodge 1197 with the possibility to be named the Student of the Year. Students are judged on the basis of multiple achievements – Volunteerism, Character, Leadership, Service, Citizenship and Scholastic.
This program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for their achievements in school and community. The Elks wish to recognize and praise those students for their accomplishments, their activities, and their contributions to society through this program.
Gallipolis Elks #107 Help North Carolina Elks With Hurricane Relief
From left: Gallipolis Elks members Kenny Caudill, Tim Wright, Chaplin Jonathon Elliott, ER Dan Bowman, Leading Knight Ron Pitchford and Shawna Pitchford at the Hendersonville Lodge #1616 relief area.
Hurricane Helene continued its destructive path into North Carolina and caused all the flooding and damage in Asheville, NC, Leading Knight Ron Pitchford and his wife, Shawna, quickly put together a relief effort to help the people in that area.
They contacted Hendersonville, NC, Elks #1616 to coordinate the effort and to find out what items were needed. A staging area was established and requests were put on Facebook for relief items.
The public response was outstanding. Items were collected over a two-week period and filled three box vans and one semi-trailer. Numerous Lodge members donated their time to help with the collection of items such as food, water, tents, bedding, grills and charcoal, pots and pans, pet supplies, medicines, clothing, cleaning supplies and etc.
Numerous Gallia businesses donated equipment, services, pallets of water and food plus there were over 300 donations from the Gallia community. The fully loaded box vans were driven to Hendersonville Elks #1616 and the semi-trailer supplies were delivered to the Hendersonville Calvary Fellowship Church. The items were then loaded onto other vehicles for distribution.
A $2,500 check was presented to Hendersonville Lodge #1616 ER to help with their efforts to feed and support their community. The $2,500 check was comprised of contributions from the community, Gallipolis Elk members and the Lodge. All the donated items were accepted with an abundance of appreciation.
Ohio Elks Vocational Scholarship Applications Now Available!
THE TRADES NEED YOU!
The Ohio Elks Association awards six (6) $1,000 scholarships (one per Ohio Elks district) for advanced training at a Tech Center, Specialty School, Training Center, or other Vocational Approved Center per year. The awards are for 2-year or less degree or certification for employment. All students must have a certification of completed GED or diploma from STEM or high school in the calendar year of submission to the Ohio Elks Association.
East Liverpool Elks #258 Helping Hurricane Survivors
Exalted Ruler Anthony Zirillo, Calcutta VFD Capt. Scott Smith and Leading Knight/Children’s Christmas Committee chairman Jim Culp
East Liverpool Elks Elks Lodge #258, along with our Christmas Committee made a $2,000 donation to the Calcutta VFD to assist with hurricane disaster aid in North Carolina.
Van Wert Elks #1197 Brings Fire Safety To Local Students
From left: Van Wert Fire Chief Jon Jones and Elks Lodge Secretary Michael C. Stanley.
Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 recently donated $150 to the Van Wert City Fire Department. The monies are to be used for the sponsorship of the Firepup Safety Program, which is presented to all the elementary school children in the city of Van Wert and all of the county schools.
The program, which is presented each October in conjunction with “Fire Prevention Week”, teaches school children the importance of fire safety. Van Wert Elks Lodge is proud to help sponsor this important program and has been a sponsor each year since the program was started in Van Wert County.
Conneaut Elk #256 Holds Successful Tool Bingo Fundraiser
Conneaut Elks Lodge #256 held its first Tool Bingo to raise money for the building fund and other lodge activities. We have had Purse bingo's before which have always been a success. This year, we decided to change it up a little and have a tool bingo. Each person who purchased a ticket received a packet of Bingo cards. Each packet had 10 cards. Each card was a different color. There were 10 tool prizes. One for each game. We had plenty of food and a lot of fun. It was a huge success, rasing about $3,700 and we are already planning on next years' event.
Napoleon Elks #929 Helping Community Battle Hunger
From left: Denise Etzler, Director Kelly Burkhardt, and Napoleon Elks Exhaulted Ruler Dan Bischoff
Napoleon Elks Lodge #929 recently donated of $2,000 to the Together We Can Make A Difference Initiatives were able to stock their food pantry program with nearly $2,800 worth of food products, purchased through careful sale-watching and shopping. Together We Can Make A Difference Initiatives primarily provides Personal Care and Toiletry items, but have found since there is not a good pantry that is open every day in Henry County they supplement food items also. People can pick 10 items every 2 weeks.
This donation was made possible from an Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant.
East Liverpool Elks #258 Supports Local Fire Departments
From left: Fire Fighter Rich Amato, ER Anthony Zirillo, First Lt. Jason Tatgenhorst, & Jason's son Jebson Tatgenhorst.
East Liverpool Elks Lodge #258’s Exalted Ruler Anthony Zirillo presented members of the West Point Volunteer Fire Department with a new Stihl chainsaw donated by the lodge.
The lodge also presented a check for $1,000 to members of the Glenmoor Volunteer Fire Department. The funds were made possible by a Community Service Grant from the Ohio Elks Association for the purchase of a new 4-gas meter for their department.
Cuyahoga Falls-Akron-Barberton Elks #1923 Help Make Community Safer
Cuyahoga Falls-Akron-Barberton Elks Lodge #1923 recently donated $1,000 to the Layfayette Fire Dept. They are using the proceeds for youth fire prevention awareness event they are hosting in the community.
Additionally, the lodge donated another $1,000 to the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department. CFPD is using these funds for first aid kits for the police station and trainer center that the offices can use for minor injuries and medical needs.
Both donations were made possible by Community Service Grants awarded by the Ohio Elks Association.
Napoleon Elk #929 Help Local Youth Baseball
From left: Napoleon Elks Exalted Ruler Dan Bischoff presents a check to Napoleon Parks and Recreation Director Tony Cotter.
The Napoleon Elks Lodge #929 recently donated $1,100 to the Napoleon City Parks and Recreation Department for equipment for the youth baseball and softball programs. This donation came from the Ohio Elks Community Service Grant.
Marion Elks #32 Help Make City More Attractive
From left: Marion Elks Exalted Ruler Dan Clark and (R) Marion Mayor Bill Collins.
Marion Elks Lodge #32 presented a $1,000 check to Mayor Bill Collins for the Tall Grass and Nuisance Property program. The Ohio Elks Community Service grant funds will be used to purchase new safety equipment and replace old worn equipment used to clean up properties that are overgrown, abandoned or neglected.
Gallipolis Elks #107 Fighting Hunger With $8,500 Donation
Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 presented a Lodge donation of $5,000 along with a check for $3,500 from the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to the Gallia County Snack Pack Program. The donation was presented to Snack Pack representatives. The funds are used to purchase nonperishable food snacks for school children of Gallia County to take home over the weekend. Currently, the Gallia County Snack Pack is delivering over 600 snack packs per month to local schools for distribution to children that are in need.
From Left: Exalted Ruler Dan Bowman, Carol Norris, Nancy Blevins, Mary Sayre, Kay Adkins, Patty Bostic, Henry Dillon, Pat Dillon and Gallipolis Elks Secretary Fred Bryant.
Ohio Elks Visit VA Hospital In Cleveland
Elks members had the privilege of recently touring the Louis Stokes Department of Veterans Medical Center in Cleveland Ohio. Ohio Elks Representative Gary Farkas organized our visit with tour guides Desmond Kennedy Assistant Chief & Stephanie Bailey Research Bachelor of Science, Physical Therapy Center.
We were shown the many medical services that are offered to our Veterans, including outpatient clinics, with the benefits of the latest health care technology. Our three-hour tour wasn’t long enough to see this entire facility. Rep. Gary is very dedicated and does a phenomenal job giving back to our men & women veterans.
During the visit, the Elks donated socks which are greatly appreciated by the veterans.
Van Wert Elks #1197 Award Scholarship to Local Student
Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 announced the awarding of a $4,000 Legacy Award Scholarship by the Elks National Foundation to Sarah Verville. The Legacy Award Scholarships are awarded by the Elks National Foundation and are only available to children and grandchildren of Elk Members. Sarah graduated this spring from Van Wert High School.
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 Sarah during this competition.
Salem Elks #305 Supports Local Parks Department
From left: Kim Chapman, CSG Chairman, Kelli Pastore with the Salem Parks Dept accepting the check from Ben Blevins, Exalted Ruler. Pictures to follow of the furniture.
The Salem Parks Department applied for a $1,000 Community Service Grant through the Salem Elks Lodge #305 offered via the Ohio Elks Association. The Parks Dept. proposed buying Adirondack chairs and side tables for the community swimming pool at Centennial Park.
Salem Lodge submitted the paperwork to the state CSG Chairman in May. We were informed in June the Salem Parks Dept has been chosen to receive 1 of the 4 grants available in the NE District.
Van Wert Elks #1197 Donate To Local First Responders
From left: Brock Profit, Middle Point Fire Chief and Lodge Community Service Grant Chairman Michael C. Stanley.
Van Wert Elks Lodge #1197 recently donated $1000 to the Middle Point Volunteer Fire Department. The department used the monies to purchase a Pi-Lit Rechargeable sequential flare and Med Evan LZ kit. These road flares when deployed on the ground “link up” to each other flashing in pattern to direct traffic around an accident scene. The second part of these flares is the Med Evac LZ. These can be deployed to mark a site for a landing zone for Medical helicopters. These are a green led light that is IR rated. This allows the helicopter pilot to use their on-board night vision to spot the LZ from 5-6 miles out.
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 $37,524.72 back into Van Wert County to assist the city, county and villages.
Van Wert Elks Lodge is proud to be able to assist the Middle Point Fire Department with this important project.
Gallipolis Elks #107 Help Local Food Pantry
From Left: Terry Burnett, Trustee, Marlene Stout, Director of the Grace Food Pantry and Exalted Ruler Dan Bowman.
Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 presented a Lodge donation of $2,000 to the Grace Methodist Church food pantry. The funds were made available through the Spotlight Grant, courtesy of the Elks National Foundation.
Conneaut Elks #256 Support Eagle Scout Project To Help Save Lives
Conneaut Elks Lodge #256 had a presentation by Boy Scout John Repasky. John is proposing the "Hunter Project" for his Eagle Scout project.
From Left: Phil Warren (Chaplain of Elks #256)), Cindy Blank (Secretary), Brad Howard (Trustee), John Repasky , Dan Blank (Exalted Ruler), Don Savel (Trustee), Rich McKenna (Loyal Knight), and Sandy Abramovich (Esquire).
In June of this year, 11 year old Hunter Ebie was swimming at Conneaut Township Park and was caught in the rip tide and lost his life, His body was discovered 4 days later. John Repasky for his Eagle Scout project is proposing to build 4 Kiosks to be placed on and around the beach. On the kiosk there will be posters that will have information on rip tides as well as a first aid kit and a QR code which, when used will give the current conditions of the lake. The Conneaut Elks donated $500 towards his project.