Ohio River Valley Elks #231 Makes the Difference in Community
1
2
3
1. ORV's Exalter Ruler, Jim Weekley, and Leading Knight, Carole Bostancic, recently presented a $1,000 Ohio Elks Community Service Grant to the Bellaire, OH Police Chief, J.J. Watson.
The award will be used to offset the cost of a recently purchased drone. The purchasing process was complicated and involved knowledge of and compliance with numerous FAA regulations. Pictured (l-r) and E.R. Jim Weekley, Police Chief J.J. Watson, and L.K. Carole Bostancic.
2. On September 27, 2025, ten recipients of the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grants were hosted at the lodge for a Spaghetti Dinner. Each non-profit received a $500 stipend.
Pictured (l-r) are Nancy Hughes, Bellaire 1st Presbyterian Church, Kimberly Arbaugh, Urban Mission Ministries, Leah Perdu, Southeastern Ohio Catholic Charities, Rebecca Nicholson, Bellaire Elementary School, Pat Hartenstein, The Daily Bread Center, Anne Ricci, Healthright, Willa Wilkins, Grace Presbyterian Church, Major Timothy Higgins, Bellaire Salvation Army, Peggy Goclan, Bridgeport Friendship Council of Churches, and Exalted Ruler, James Weekley. Not attending, St. Frances Cabrini Food Pantry.
3. Ohio River Valley Elks No. 231 pack Weekend Eats at the Bellaire Middle School. The project, made possible by an Elks National Foundation Grant, provides nutritious weekend food for the students. The grant helps subsidize the program, but the Elks members pack every bag distributed during the school year. Pictured (l-r) are Leading Knight, Carole Bostancic, Peggy Cusick, Bob Morris, Becky Kinney, Trustee, Mary Carolyn Nichelson, treasurer and Jim Nichelson, Trustee.
Cuyahoga Falls #1923 Supports N.E. Ohio District's Drug Awareness Program
Officers and members of Cuyahoga Falls Lodge #1923 recently traveled to Ravenna Lodge #1076 to support the 4th Annual Rib Cookoff Benefitting Drug Awareness. The event is held each year on the first Saturday in October at one of the district's lodges. Funds raised during the event are used to support the Northeast Ohio District's Drug Awareness Program.
Marysville Lodge 1130 Promotes Drug Awareness
Marysville Lodge officers take pride in their commitment to their community by spreading drug awareness. Each year the lodge participates in the following DAP events: Uptown Friday Summer Events, Scarysville, Christmas Walk, and the Elks Christmas parade. They hand out drug awareness materials and Elroy is never too far away to greet the kids.
Thank you Marysville!!
Pictured are the lodge officers along with DDGER Bobby Marchi and State Drug Awareness Chairman, Becky Underhill
Marysville Elks Lodge #1130 Steps Up for a Cause!
Marysville Elks Lodge #1130 proudly participated in the annual Union County Walk A Mile in Her Shoes event held recently. Through our fundraising efforts, we were able to raise and donate $5,000 to Turning Point, a shelter that supports victims of domestic and sexual abuse and their families.
We’re especially proud to share that our Lodge has had the largest team for five years in a row!
Thank you to all our members and supporters who continue to walk beside us in making a difference in our community.
Gallipolis #107 Thank Veterans with Meal
Gallipolis, Ohio: A Veterans’ appreciation dinner was held in Gallipolis, Ohio, on 29 September 2025 at the Gallia Co Council on Aging. The Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107 worked in concert with the Council on Aging to provide the dinner to ninety veterans and their guests. The Gallipolis VFW presented the Colors while the Boy Scout Troop 200, Rio Grande University students of Sociology, Gallia Co. Council on Aging board members and staff and members of the Gallipolis Elks assisted in the meal service. Veterans from each branch of service were recognized along with the Commanders of the various veterans’ organizations. The funding for the meal was provided by Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107.
Elyria Elks #465 Use Gratitude Grant to Help Local Girls
The Elyria Elks used a $2,000 Gratitude Grant to purchase hygiene products to support Path & Green, a local organization that distributes hygiene products and essential care to local girls from low income families across Lorain County - reminding them that they are seen, valued and worthy. This gift directly fuels their mission to end hygiene insecurity and period poverty, allowing them to serve even more students this year.
One is the check presentation from ER Dean Robinson and PER Mike Walker to Carissa Reitz
Jackson Lodge Celebrates President Denny
Jackson Elks Lodge had a packed house on 9/27 in celebration for OUR Ohio state president, Keith Denny. In attendance were Elk Members from all over the state and members of Jackson Lodge. Pictured is Secretary Rod Bachtel presenting Keith Denny with a plaque Congratulating him for Being The 2025-2026 Ohio Elks State President. Keith and Lynn would like to give a special Thank you to everyone that had a helping hand in planning and attending our Celebration Saturday evening. It was a perfect evening. The food and music was amazing!! And we are so honored to have so much support from Jackson Lodge and surrounding lodges in Ohio.
Two Inches from Exclusion to Inclusion: Norwalk Elks Provides New Tables To Transform Art Studio
Artists' Open Studio is celebrating a major step toward accessibility after receiving a grant from the Ohio Elks Association Cerebral Palsy Fund to purchase 10 new handicap-accessible adjustable tables. Artists' Open Studio is a nonprofit arts collective that provides inclusive creative space for people of all abilities. Its programs serve a wide range of artists and intentionally includes people with developmental disabilities, mobility challenges, and other support needs. The studio is located in downtown Norwalk and operates as a public gallery. More information can be found by visiting facebook.com/artistsopenstudioinc.
From left, Summer Braddock and Fred Wagner paint on the new handicap-accessible tables at Artists' Open Studio.
Kelly Aston works on a new handicap-accessible talbe at Artists' Open Studio in Norwalk.
Athens Elks Lodge #973 Have Busy September Supporting the Community
Athens Elks Lodge #973 donated $5,000 to the Athens County Department of Jobs and Family Services to purchase winter coats for needy children in their program. This donation should provide for approximately 500 winter coats. (See picture) Pictured L to R, Jean Demosky, Executive Director of the Athens County Dept of job and Family Services, Athens Elks Members Rich Russell, Jim Balding, Adam Lewis, George McCarthy and Tim Lairson.
The Athens Elks Lodge #973 donated $1,000 to the Federal Valley Resource Center for their Veterans Garden project. The Veterans Garden will be located at the Resource Center in Stewart, by the main entrance to the building. It will have benches, flowers, a flagpole, and steppingstones. Inside there are photos of Veterans and this money will help upgrade that display as well.
Athens Elks Lodge #973 donated $500 to John W. Clem Recovery House as a Silver Sponsor for their 7 th Annual Wake-Up for Recovery Breakfast fundraiser. The John W. Clem Recovery House was opened in December 2006 to provide safe, homelike residential facilities for men who struggle with alcohol and substance abuse disorders.
The recovery house has helped more than 700 men in their journey to find and maintain
sobriety. Athens Elks Lodge #973 donated $250 as a platinum sponsor to the Federal Hocking Youth Basketball league. Federal Hocking is a rural school in Athens County. The donation will be used toward uniforms, equipment, gym rentals and to help pay for refs. It serves youth in grades 3rd to 6 th. Athens Elks Lodge #973 donated $300 to be a platinum sponsor for the Kiwanis Club of Athens annual pancake day. This fundraising event helps raise funding for the children in the Athens community and supports children in need.
Athens Elks Lodge #973 donated $3,000 in gift cards and gas cards to the Athens County Veterans Court Treatment Program. The cards are provided to veterans as rewards for reaching goals set for them throughout the treatment program. They are awarded for reaching certain achievements or completing certain tasks such as successfully completing treatment, completing sober living, hitting sobriety milestones and ultimately for graduating from the program. Funding for this was provided by the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant. (See picture) Pictured L to R Athens Elks members Jim Balding and Rich Russell, Athens County Judge George McCarty Veterans Court administrator, Athens Elks members Tim Lairson and Mark Mahaffey.
Lima #54 Presents Eagle Scouts with Awards
On September 13, 2025, the Lima Elks Lodge #54 recognized Connor Vondrell of BSA Troop #777 during his Eagle Scout Court of Honor.
Also on September 14, 2025, the Lima Elks Lodge #54 recognized Mia Kohli of BSA Troop #106 during her Eagle Scout Court of Honor.
The awards consisted of The American flag and the Eagle Scout Certificate framed for hanging.
For his Eagle Scout project, Connor overhauled the entrance to the local YMCA building with new landscape plantings, river rock mulch and a commemorative rock denoting his Eagle Scout project.
For her Eagle Scout project, Mia designed and installed a demonstration pollinator habitat located at Shawnee Elmwood Schoot. Mia is the first young woman in the Great Oaks District to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
Congratulations to Connor and Mia on their many achievements.
Elks 1923 2025 Annual Veterans Cornhole Tournament
Elks Lodge 1923 held its annual Veterans Cornhole Tournament Saturday Sept 13, 2025. This is year 4 of this fan favorite event. We are still calculating our numbers, but we typically raise around 3k and we donate 100% of these funds to local Veterans Charities. We had a great day of music, cornhole and Elkdom. We had 13 raffle baskets, a 50/50 and we will give a total number when we have it. We also had two new folks turn in applications that day to join our Lodge after having such a great time for such a great cause.
Wooster #1346 Uses Beacon and Spotlight Grant to help 150 Families
On August 8th, the Wooster Elks proudly teamed up with Wooster City Schools, the Wooster YMCA, the Wayne County Schools Career Center, and People to People Ministries to host an incredible Back to School Bash—made possible through our Beacon and Spotlight Grants.
Thanks to this powerful collaboration, we were able to support over 150 families, ensuring children had the school supplies and fresh haircuts they needed to start the academic year with confidence.
It was a shining example of what can happen when community organizations come together for a shared purpose. Here's to partnerships that make a real difference
Pictured Left to Right: Jody Rives, Brenna Lanneaux, Nikki Fehrenbach, Angie Mullen, Linda Amos (Wooster Elks ER), and Cole Hissong.
Gallipolis #107 Combine Grants and Lodge Donations to Give $16,500 to Feed Community in Need
PER Dan Bowman, Gallipolis Elks 107 Trustee, presented the $2000 Spotlight Grant to Marlene Stout, Director of the Grace Food Pantry. The monies will be use to process donated beef from the Gallia Co. Jr. Fair along with purchasing non-perishables, cleaning supplies and etc. to be provided to over 60 families and homeless.
Gallipolis Elks PER Dan Bowman presented a Lodge donation of $10,000 along with a check for $4,500 from the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to the Gallia County Snack Pack Program. The donation was presented to Snack Pack representatives pictured in the 1st row left to right: Pat Dillon, Kay Adkins, Patti Bostic, Nancy Blevins, Susie Bryant and PER Dan Bowman. Second row, left to right: Henny Dillon, Mary Sayer and Carol Norris. The funds are used to purchase nonperishable food snacks for school children of Gallia Co. to take home over the weekend. Currently, the Gallia Co. Snack Pack is delivering over 600 snack packs per month to local schools for distribution to children that are in need.
Pat Dillon, Kay Adkins, Patti Bostic, Nancy Blevins, Susie Bryant and PER Dan Bowman. Second row, left to right: Henny Dillon, Mary Sayer and Carol Norris.
Pictured from left to right is Tiler Fred Bryant, Marlene Stout and PER Dan Bowman.
Columbus Grove City #37 Utilize Freedom Grant to Help Veterans
Friday August 15, 2025 The Columbus Grove City Elks Lodge #37 had the honor of presenting a $1,000 Freedom Grant to the MASH pantry. The MASH pantry plants and tends gardens and passes out food to our veterans and their families in the Grove City community.
Pictured: Mira Cremeans, ENF co-chair and Vicki Flannigan MASH pantry.
Kenton #157 Utilizes the Gratitude Grant for Two Community Needs
Kenton (Ohio) Lodge #157 used the majority of a $4500 Gratitude Grant to provide 35, needy area 4H members with $100 each to assist with their 4H camp fees. Following the camp session, members of the lodge provided a cookies-and-punch reception at the lodge to the recipients and their families, during which the campers were encouraged to share their favorite experiences during the weeklong event.
Also, Kenton Lodge used the balance of its Gratitude Grant to provide $1000.00 worth of food and home products to the local “Angels for the Elderly” agency, which assists senior citizens in the community in experiencing hunger and home-hygiene issues. Over 120 boxes of food and home items are distributed monthly by the agency.
Pictured at the Angels for the Elderly storage building are, left to right, Vicki Miller, lodge member and volunteer; Mary Roby, agency director; Dorothy Kissling, agency volunteer; and Julie Crowe, Lodge PER and Grant administrator.
Kenton #157 Donates $2,000 for S.O.U.P.
The Kenton Elks recently donated $2000.00 to the S.O.U.P. (Some Of Us People) of Hardin County to be used toward food supplies and rent. The funds come from a “Spotlight On Service” grant provided by the Elks National Foundation.
Pictured from left to right, front row, are: Julie Crowe, Elks Trustee; Kathy Hilty, S.O.U.P. Director; and Elks member, Vicki Miller; in the second row are S.O.U.P. Volunteers Joan White, Pam Miller, Martha Klingler, and Robynn McCune (also an Elks member).
Lime #54 Improve Resident Safety Through Ohio Community Service Grant
On Thursday, September 4, 2025, the Lima Elks Lodge #54 presented the Ottawa Volunteer Fire Department Association
with funding totaling $1,439.95 for the purchase of Emergency Identification material.
These Identification Tags are used to assist Law Enforcement and First Responders in identifying individuals of all ages
during emergency situations such as automobile accidents. These funds were made possible from the Ohio Elks
Association and the Lima Fifty-Four Athletic and Scholastic fund.
This donation is an expression of the commitment by the Lima Elks Lodge #54 to serve local communities in Allen County,
Putnam County and eastern Auglaize County.
For more information about the Elks, please logon to elks.org to learn of the many programs available to youth and veterans
in our communities.
Salem Elks #305 Equip Local Fire Department through Ohio Elks Community Service Grant
The $1000 Community Service Grant through the Ohio Elks Association was presented to the North Jackson Township Fire Department, today. This grant was used to purchase attachments for cutting the windshield off of a vehicle, when rescuing a motorist involved in an accident. Prior to this purchase, the Fire fighters had to hand saw thru the metal. See 2nd image, comparing the 2 pieces of equipment. A shout out to Jon Felice, State CSG Chairman for directing their inquiry to our Salem Elks Lodge #305 .
Pictured are Captain Anthiny Jones, Kimberly Chapman , PER/CSG Chairman and Fire fighter Ricky Anstine.
The Gallipolis Elks #107 donates $17,500 to Hannan Jr./Sr. High School Band
The Hannan Jr./Sr. High School Band, from Mason County, West Virginia, was selected as the official representatives of West Virginia for the 80 th annual Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Hawaii on December 7, 2025. Hannan JSHS is a small school with about 230 students in grades 7-12, so it was quite a honor to be selected to represent West Virginia in a parade honoring veterans and their families. The total cost of the trip is estimated to be $3,500 per student and the Gallipolis Elks gladly donated $17,500 to fund 5 of the band members to attend this memorial event.
Picture caption: From left, PDDGER Rick Borton, PER Mike Null, Hannan Principle J.R. Carlisle and DDGER Bob Marchi.
Jackson #466 Awards Spotlight Grant to Jackson Middle School Food Pantry
The Jackson Elks Lodge# 466 Awarded The $2000 Spotlight Grant to The Jackson Middle School for the school’s food pantry. Accepting The Spotlight Grant is Organizer of the program PER Craig Byler of Jackson Elks Lodge# 466. Also pictured are Ohio Elks Association President Keith Denny and First Lady Lynn presenting the check.