With winter challenges comes an opportunity for Elks Lodges to meet them. Community Investments Program grants can be used to help people in need not just survive the winter, but also make it a time for comfort and camaraderie with their neighbors.
There is one thing that everyone needs to make it through the winter safely—a coat. Many Lodges use their grants to supply coats and other cold-weather clothing; Beacon, Spotlight and Gratitude Grants can be used for this purpose.
Winchester, Va., Lodge No. 867 uses its Beacon Grant to supply blankets and coats to a domestic violence shelter. Kearny-Belleville, N.J., Lodge No. 1050 uses a Spotlight Grant for a Warm Welcome to the Library project, pairing coat distribution with an introduction to the resources of the local library. Atlanta-Northlake, Ga., Lodge No. 78 uses a Gratitude Grant to provide winter clothing and sleeping bags to veterans experiencing housing insecurity.
Hunger can also be an elevated need during the winter season. According to the School Nutrition Association, around 30 million students participate in the National School Lunch Program, receiving a nutritious meal each school day. While the winter break is a reason for celebration for many, students from under-resourced families may need support filling the nutritional gap during vacation.
Bartlesville, Okla., Lodge No. 1060 works with the local elementary schools to ensure students are provided for during the holiday break. Before the Christmas holiday, the Lodge uses Beacon Grant funds to provide families with food, paper products and sometimes even bicycles.
“The families are so excited and grateful,” says Grants Coordinator Troy Henson. “We have members tear up during the presentation.”
It’s important to remember that food support shouldn’t end with the holidays. After the new year, food pantries and other support agencies see a decline in donations. Xenia, Ohio, Lodge No. 668 uses its Spotlight Grant to restock the local food pantry after the rush of the holidays. The Greene County FISH Pantry serves almost 900 families during holiday weeks; come January, the organization needs neighbors like the Elks to help provide for those who are still experiencing food insecurity.
Some Lodges look beyond food and essential need items for their wintery grant projects. Augusta, Maine, Lodge No. 964 uses its Beacon Grant for a heating and winterizing program, where members help elderly neighbors and people with disabilities prepare their homes for cold weather. The Lodge connects with utility support organizations, food pantries, and community resource groups to identify those who may not have the means or mobility to winterize their homes.
With the goal of assisting about a dozen families, Lodge members purchase, split and deliver wood; distribute propane; provide blankets, hats and winter clothing; and help install windows and door seals.
“With high prices of housing, food, electricity, gas, and other products, families are having to make hard choices on what to buy, leaving heating at the bottom of their priority list,” says Grants Coordinator Monique Laflamme. With an average high temperature of 34 degrees during the winter months, these repairs are sorely needed by the local community.
While some needs may change with the seasons, the support that Elks Lodges give their communities stays consistent. CIP grants are an avenue to bolster this support—if your Lodge has unused grants, make sure you apply before the approaching January 22, 2025, deadline!
For more information on the Community Investments Program, visit elks.org/cip, or contact the CIP office at 773/755-4730 or LodgeGrants@elks.org.