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Local Elks lodges from every state, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Panama Canal Zone will be busy helping our communities this holiday season. Thousands of needy families will receive food baskets and presents. The Elks National President, Michael T. Luhr motto is “working together to make a difference.”

Elks volunteers also visited thousands of hospitalized veterans who have protected our freedoms. The Elks vow “so long as their our veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.” The Elks support both active military forces and retired veterans. Elks furnish food, comfort care items, therapeutic items and gifts, host holiday celebrations and recreational activities at bases and hospitals, and stand ready to fulfill any need when called upon. Last year alone, the total value of Elks’ contributions to our veterans was $47 million, and our members served more than 677,000 veterans. The Elks have entered into a partnership with VHA to support efforts to help homeless veterans in their communities. To this end, the Elks have pledged $4 million to help end veteran homelessness.

The Elks received thousands of scholarship applications this month from high school seniors across the nation. Annually, the Elks award college scholarships across the nation totaling more than $4 million.

The Elks Community Investment Program will award $12.4 million toward enriching our communities. The Elks total donations exceeded 675 million last year.

There are more than 1,700 Elks lodges across the country with total membership nearing 800,000. Elks’ members must be American citizens who are at least 21 years of age and must believe in God

To learn more, visit elks.org.

BECKY STONE

Sandpoint

Exalted Ruler

Sandpoint Elks