With the Voluntary Service program, Elks are supporting veteran needs by hosting activities and providing supplies throughout the year. The Boost Grant is one way that Voluntary Service Representatives can make this support happen. As we approach the beginning of the new Elks’ year, our volunteers are planning new events for veterans to anticipate and continuing their successful programs from previous years.
At right, National Veterans Programs Chair, Stewart Israel and Voluntary Service Representative Scott Harris attend a veterans event.
In Yale, Michigan, Representative Scott Harris and Port Huron, Lodge No. 343 plan to host a veteran lunch event with on-site services for attendees. This event started three years ago, when Scott and his Lodge held an event to spread information about the PACT Act, with help from a Boost Grant.
Now, veterans will have the opportunity to share a meal together and access soft wave therapy, haircuts, therapeutic massages, and more. These events have been a tremendous success, connecting veterans with valuable resources from local service organizations and healthcare providers.
At the State Veterans Home in Cameron, Missouri, Representative Samantha Barrett has plans to use a Boost Grant to establish a pen pal program for veterans and local students. As a volunteer, Samantha has seen how this program can reduce veteran loneliness and believes it will teach children about their history and who the veterans are.
In addition to grant projects, volunteers also show up on a consistent basis to create relationships and offer ongoing support. In Fort Collins, Colorado, Representative Carol Jones has continued a previous volunteer’s tradition of providing a coffee station for veterans awaiting their VA appointments.
Recently, Carol met a Korean War veteran named Andy who stopped by for coffee and conversation. She shared this story he told her about his experience with the Elks:
“…long ago he was traveling through Texas in an old truck. The truck broke down while he was driving, but as luck would have it, it stopped right in front of an Elks Lodge. They took him in, fed him, got him a place to stay for the night. A couple of members who were mechanics fixed his truck up and sent him on his way the next day. He never forgot those folks.”
At left, Korean War veteran Andy enjoys a coffee.
Whether it’s Voluntary Service, Freedom Grants, Welcome Home Kits, or other projects your Lodge participates in, there are so many ways to join in and serve veterans in your community. To learn more about how to get involved, visit the Voluntary Service Program website.
Back