Veterans Leather Program

For many patients in VA hospitals, time can move slowly between visits from family and friends. In addition to holding events and providing friendship to veterans in VA hospitals, Elks also provide the tools for veterans to take up a new skill.

The Veterans Leather Program relies on the charity of hunters across the nation to donate hides so they can be turned into leather used for therapy programs for recovering veterans.

Leather is also used to provide professionally-crafted gloves for veterans in wheelchairs, which are distributed at veterans adaptive sports clinics and gatherings throughout the country. Click here to read more about the sports clinics!

Each year, thousands of Elks step up to help out with this program, offering their time, energy and skills to serve veterans. Their gifts help to create thousands of gloves and therapy kits provided to veterans at no charge.

“Veterans at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games were ecstatic to receive the gloves. They told us they look forward to the games because they know that the Elks will be there distributing the leather gloves, and these are the only gloves that hold up.”
- Don Baye, Louisiana State Veterans Chair

In 2023-24:

• 8 states collected 11,916 hides.

• 938 veterans received free wheelchair gloves.

• 74,761 square feet of leather was donated by Elks to provide free craft kits for recovering veterans.

• 14,188 veterans received craft kits from the Elks.

Please note that donations of hides are currently only accepted in 8 states: Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, and Tennessee. We hope to expand the program in the future.

Resources for Veterans Leather Program volunteers:

Any State Veterans Chair, Voluntary Service Representative, or Deputy Representative can use this order form to request free wheelchair gloves and craft kits for the veterans at their facility.
Craft kits available for use at VA facilities, State Veteran Homes, nursing homes, veterans shelters, or to veterans attending Lodge events. Please plan ahead and allow 3-4 weeks for delivery.
Are you a hunter looking to help out the Elks? Click here to view an instructional guide. Then, contact your local Elks Lodge for drop-off information.

Check out other Elks Veterans Programs! Learn about the Adopt-a-Veteran, Elks VA Voluntary Service and Welcome Home Programs, and Freedom Grants.

Questions? Email Vets@elks.org or call 773/755-4736.

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