Hamilton, Ohio, Lodge No. 93 is 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 Lodge opted for the Adopt-a-Haven project plan under the Spotlight Grant, 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 garden, 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 veterans and their families.
“One of the biggest successes is all the Elk volunteers that came together to work on this project,” says Grants Coordinator Donald Bickel. “The other success is that we now 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.”
Sanford, Fla., Lodge No. 1241 used its Beacon Grant to host the third annual Family Fun Day, which brought families to the Lodge to welcome the new school year. Families who would struggle to afford school supplies were given backpacks containing everything the student would need to have a successful school year.
The Lodge shared in its application that more people are struggling financially in the community. To meet this increased need, the Lodge invited many single-parent households and children experiencing housing insecurity to the event. A significant percentage of the attendees were in transitional or unstable living situations.
“As Elks, we're so blessed to even have the opportunity to connect with these families and individuals at our events,” says Grants Coordinator Cristin Rumler. “But we're even more blessed and thankful to be able to help, even in a small way.”
The Lodge also ensured the attendees enjoyed themselves by providing a variety of games and arts and crafts stations. More than 60 Lodge members were involved in the event, helping to set up, host the families, and clean up afterwards.
Elwood, Ind., Lodge No. 368 used its Gratitude Grant to help local youth clean up their city. Every year, the local government puts on a Day of Caring, where students paint buildings, landscape, and clean up throughout the city. Elks support this project by providing lunch for the volunteers. Beyond being fuel to power the cleanup day, the food also likely benefited students experiencing food insecurity; about 75 percent of students in the local school system qualify for the free lunch program.
Nearly 100 members got on board to cook and deliver the meals and assist as part of the cleanup crew. Lodge members were thrilled to see young people embodying charity and benevolence—two of the founding ideals of the BPOE.
Portsmouth, N.H., Lodge No. 97 uses an Impact Grant to guarantee that new neighbors feel like valued members of their community.
On domestic Navy bases, sailors often experience isolation, which can lead to mental health troubles during and after enlistment. With the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard just three miles from the Lodge, members want to ensure that all people in the area, including sailors based there temporarily, know they are neighbors of the Elks.
The Lodge uses Impact Grant funds to provide a variety of experiences to sailors stationed in their town, including sports events, outdoor recreation gatherings, pet therapy sessions, community meals, and meetups with local veteran support organizations. Other local groups have gotten into the spirit as well, including a nonprofit that donated 15 bicycles for the sailors and a concert venue that provided 70 free tickets to the cause.
When a Lodge lives up to its ideals of charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity, there’s no better neighbor. Every day can be National Good Neighbor Day for Elks—and CIP grants prove it.
Beacon, Spotlight, and Gratitude Grant applications are open through January 22, 2025. For more information, visit elks.org/cip, or contact the CIP office at 773/755-4730 or LodgeGrants@elks.org.