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2014 Impact Grant Lodges

Congratulations to the class of 2014 Impact Grant recipients! The following projects will receive between $2,500 and $10,000 to make a significant difference in their communities in 2014. Renewal grants are listed in green.

Cahaba Valley, Ala., Lodge No. 1738 will continue to support community members undergoing dialysis treatment with the Expressing Loving Kindness and Support project. Elks reach out to hundreds of patients and caregivers at seven different dialysis treatment centers in the area. They provide care packages for patients filled with blankets, snacks and other supplies, and small gifts for hard-working caregivers. Elks also hold weekly events to lift patients’ spirits, and are always around to offer a warm smile and friendly conversation.

Jonesboro, Ark., Lodge No. 498 is helping to keep community members with disabilities safe with Project Lifesaver. Elks will partner with local police to expand and promote an electronic wristband program for community members who may wander and be unable to find their way home. Elks will lead the project and visit all program participants once a month to replace wristbands, answer questions, and support the participants and their families. The program also offers the local police a break, and the knowledge that they can depend on the Elks allows them to get back to the work of serving and protecting.

Phoenix, Ariz., Lodge No. 335 knows that raising a family can be hard work, and even harder when done alone. Through their Single Parent Relief project, Elks will offer support and assistance to single-parent families in need. Once a month, families will be welcomed into the Lodge for a hearty breakfast and a chance to build relationships with similar families. Parents and children can then visit the supply pantry which will be fully stocked with food, baby supplies, school supplies, clothing and more. Parents and children will benefit from knowing that the Elks family is there for them.

Sun City, Ariz., Lodge No. 2559 will help community members with Alzheimer’s keep their minds as active and healthy as possible with the Brain Games project. Elks will partner with the senior center to hold weekly game sessions with residents, and twice a month Elk volunteers will help run music therapy classes at the center. The project, designed to help prevent and delay the effects of Alzheimer's, also offers companionship to seniors and relief to their families.

San Diego, Calif., Lodge No. 168 will continue to reach out to teens who are refugees with the Elks Student Citizen Motivation Project. The project engages students in service-work, helping them learn new skills and build their resumes. Together, Elks and students will build community gardens at local schools and parks. Lodge members also tutor the students, and help with English literacy, career planning, and taking the first steps toward citizenship.

Fresno, Calif., Lodge No. 439 will teach at-risk teens the importance of community service through the Elks Mt. Olympus Challenge project. Twice a week, Elks will meet with students, arrange for guest speakers, and help the teens plan a service project that will make a difference in the community. At the end of the 10 week session, youth will compete to see who has the best service project idea, and the winner will have the chance to put the plan into action.

Santa Barbara, Calif., Lodge No. 613 will continue to support veterans in need through the Peace for Veterans project. Each month, veterans gather at the Lodge for food, fellowship and education. The Elks offer a free lunch to veterans in need, and each event features a speaker who presents on topics such as PTSD treatment, healthy living, and benefits and resources available to veterans. The Lodge also distributes needed supplies, and lets veterans know about other resources available—from free dental clinics to counseling programs to rehabilitation centers.

Fullerton, Calif., Lodge No. 1993 will offer support to teen girls in the foster care system through the Great Start Project. Elks will help the girls feel at home by providing them with comforters, supplies and personal items for their rooms at the nearby group home. Then, Elks will invite the girls into the Elks family by holding quarterly events to celebrate the girls’ achievements, and regular events to encourage the girls' interest and let them know they can count on the Elks.

Naugatuck, Conn., Lodge No. 967 will continue to help seniors in need with the Senior Home Work Project. Every Saturday as weather permits, the Elks are out and about town, repairing homes for seniors to help them stay independent. Elks have also built a partnership with a local high school class, and one morning each week, students lend a hand while the Elks teach them about repair skills and service.

Westbrook, Conn., Lodge No. 1784 knows the value of a good story and will spread the word through the Sharing Our Stories project. Elks who are veterans will partner with fifth graders and their teachers at the local school to teach youth about history, storytelling and story writing. The project will end with a tellebration for the Elks, the children and their families, at which each child will present their story and demonstrate what they’ve learned.

Bradenton, Fla., Lodge No. 1511 will continue to provide youth in need with backpacks full of food each weekend with the Elks Feeding Empty Little Tummies project. Many children in need receive food at school during the week but go hungry on the weekends. Thanks to this long-running program, many children who are homeless and in need now have food for them and their families each Friday through Sunday. Since it started, this project has gathered so much support at the Lodge and in the community that Elks now serve 600 children each week.

Florida Keys, Fla., Lodge No. 1872 will aid disabled and recovering veterans through the Vets on the Water project. Elks will partner with local veterans groups, the VA hospital and local boating groups to arrange fishing, kayaking and other trips for veterans in recovery. Ahoy there, Elks!

Covington, Ga., Lodge No. 1806 will be there for community members in need through the Elks Care Food Pantry project. Once a week, Elks will deliver and stock food at the pantry. But that’s just the beginning. Elk volunteers will be there twice a week to distribute food and meet with community members. Elks will also construct a children’s area at the pantry, and volunteer twice a week to watch the children while their parents shop.

Hilo, Hawaii, Lodge No. 759 will continue to help community members say aloha to fresh, homegrown fruits and vegetables through the From the Garden project. Elks partner with local health organization Hui Malama Ola Na `Oiwi to help community members with diabetes grow their own backyard gardens. Volunteers get together each Saturday to build and deliver garden beds, soil, fertilizer and seedlings to program participants.

Sandpoint, Idaho, Lodge No. 1376 will continue to teach youth in need the sport of golf through the Junior Golf Program. Each summer, Elks teach 90 youth in need the fundamentals of golf over a six-week summer program. It’s not all tees and greens though—youth also learn about drug awareness, and Elks mentors teach the young golfers about honesty, sportsmanship and perseverance.

Princeton, Ill., Lodge No. 1461 will continue to serve weekly meals to community members in need through the Elks Table project. Each Thursday night, the Lodge welcomes more than 100 people to the Lodge for a healthy meal and good conversation. All are welcome to come, and families, seniors and homeless individuals regularly stop by the Elks table.

Vincennes, Ind., Lodge No. 291 will offer support to community members recovering from drug addiction through the Elks Mentors project. Elks will partner with a halfway house to offer support, job training and resources to residents looking to rebuild their lives. Elks will also build a library at the transitional home and spread the word about drug awareness in the community.

Junction City, Kans., Lodge No. 1037 will offer support to those who are hungry through the Food for Families project. Elks will partner with the food pantry to serve healthy meals twice a month to all in need. Elks will also hold regular food drives and encourage local gardeners to donate produce to the pantry.

Ashland, Ky., Lodge No. 350 will teach youth about healthy eating and combat childhood obesity with the Elks Plant Seeds of Change project. Elks will partner with local schools to build gardenbeds and greenhouses. Elks will help students plant and care for the gardens, and plan healthy eating presentations and get-togethers to spread the word about healthy choices.

Augusta, Maine, Lodge No. 964 will support at-risk teens through the Augusta Youth Elks Mentoring Project. Elks will partner with the local Boys and Girls Club to begin the weekly mentoring program. Elks will also plan educational field trips for the youth, from college visits to trips to the capital.

Hopkins, Minn., Lodge No. 2221 will continue to build a support system for homeless teens with the Teaming Up for Teens project. Elks pack and deliver backpacks of hygiene supplies and other necessities to halfway houses, teen shelters, foster homes and social workers’ offices. The Lodge also holds a few events a year and provides the teens with school supplies, winter clothes and more.

Columbia, Mo., Lodge No. 594 will continue to provide weekend backpacks of food to 88 children in need with the Backpack Buddy Program. Elks purchase, pack and deliver the packs to the school each week so children have enough food over the weekend. Elks also pack extra food for the children and their families over school breaks, and build awareness of health eating and proper nutrition.

Osage Community, Mo., Lodge No. 2705 will continue to be there for youth in need through the School First Responders Project. Elks help local students get the supplies they need to do well in school. From clothes, shoes and winter jackets, to notebooks, pencils and hygiene supplies, students know they can count on the Elks. Project volunteers work closely with teachers and school staff to respond quickly to students’ needs, and help create a healthier, more stable learning environment.

Red Lodge ‘Beartooth’, Mont., Lodge No. 534 will partner with local veterans groups to run the Veteran Education and Job Training Program. The project, based at the Lodge, will pair Elk veterans with unemployed, underemployed and returning veterans. Elks will assist veterans in learning computer skills, job training, resume-building and interview skills.

Hendersonville, N.C., Lodge No. 1616 will give low-income youth a safe place to play through the Park Restoration Project. Elks will repair and renovate a park building in a low-income area so that youth can enjoy time outdoors. Elks will do all the work from start to finish: from restoring plumbing and repairing water fountains to holding events at the finished park for the community and for the youth at the nearby Boys and Girls Club.

Hickory, N.C., Lodge No. 1654 will continue to provide food and supplies for people in need with the Helping Hands project. Once a month, Elks provide a warm, healthy meal for community members in need. All who attend are given a lunch to take home for the next day, and Elks maintain a clothing and supply closet to ensure those who come leave satisfied and prepared.

Morganton, N.C., Lodge No. 1852 will support local students in need through the No Hunger on Weekends project. Each week, Elks will purchase, pack and deliver backpacks of food to 83 students in need at three local schools.

Nashua, N.H., Lodge No. 720 will continue the support struggling community members with the Feed the Hungry project. Each Sunday night, Elks purchase and prepare food for more than a hundred people in need at the local soup kitchen. The Lodge teaches the value of community service by regularly recruiting high school and college students to help out.

Hightstown, N.J., Lodge No. 1955 will spread the love of reading through the Elks Book Club project. Elks will partner with a local center for low-income youth to start a monthly book club for preschool-aged children and their families. Elks will plan and lead each book club session, which will include books for the children, crafts, and healthy meal for all.

Tahoe/Douglas, Nev., Lodge No. 2670 will continue to run a support program for women and children at a domestic violence center with the Live Violence Free project. Elks pack lunches twice a month and keep the emergency food pantry well-stocked with supplies. Elks also provide nutritional brochures and emergency food vouchers, and build support around the community. Finally, Elks spread a little sunshine by providing toys and games for children during holidays, and events throughout the year.

Lockport, N.Y., Lodge No. 41 will continue to run a summer camp for 150 children and adults with disabilities with the Camp Happiness project. Lodge members donate more than a thousand hours of volunteer time to offer campers the chance to canoe, hike, climb, create crafts, take music lessons and more. For the campers, it’s a fun way to be active, independent, and have a great time with friends.

Mid-Westchester, N.Y., Lodge No. 535 will continue to provide social opportunities for teens with disabilities through the Social Group for Teens project. Twice a month, Elks assist the teens in attending sports games, planning movie nights, going to art fairs, and more. The teens build their independence and get the chance to spend time with their peers.

Hillsboro, Ohio, Lodge No. 361 will continue to help recent high school graduates with disabilities find jobs with the Impact a Life project. Elks teach the basics of finding and keeping a job—from practicing job interviews and keeping a uniform clean to showing up on time. Elks also partner with local businesses to hold job trainings to teach the skills these graduates need to find employment.

Jackson, Ohio, Lodge No. 466 will get community members rolling with the Bicycle Recycle Program—Pedal Bikes Not Drugs. Elks will collect old bikes and refurbish them, and distribute them throughout the community. Youth and community members in need can attend a safety seminar and receive a free bike. To pay it forward, Elks ask that each recipient spend two hours one their promoting the city’s new recycling program. The Elks are combating obesity and promoting healthy choices and environmentalism, all while pedaling around town.

Coos Bay, Ore., Lodge No. 1160 will continue to reach out to children in need with the Weekend Share Bear Snack Pack project. Each week, Elks purchase, pack and deliver 80 backpacks of food for kids in need. Elks also partner with a larger organization to help pack thousands more snack packs for children across the county.

Corvallis, Ore., Lodge No. 1413 will continue to feed and clothe community members in need with the Brunch for the Needy project. Once a month, Elks open their doors for Sunday brunch, providing food, fellowship and support for local citizens in need. Residents are welcome to a warm meal, and any other supplies they may need—from socks and hygiene supplies to warm, dry clothes for the cold and wet Oregon weather.

Burns, Ore., Lodge No. 1680 will continue to feed the hungry once a month with the Harney County Chuckwagon project. Elks serve more than 100 people each month, and more show up every time. The Lodge partners with local churches and organizations to promote the program and recruits local high school and college students to help out.

Hillsboro, Ore., Lodge No. 1862 will continue to to support children and families in need with the Hillsboro Elks Leading Progress project. Elks team with a local family resource center to provide families in need with food, school supplies and more. Elks volunteer weekly and maintain a garden they built on site to increase the fresh produce available to families. Elk volunteers also deliver food to families who are unable to get to center.

Bristol County, R.I., Lodge No. 1860 will continue to tackle hunger with the East Bay Cares project. Elks work with local food pantries, churches and soup kitchens to deliver emergency food supplies, prepared food baskets, educational resources and more to residents in need. Elks also run “Healthy Cooking with Pantry Foods” classes at local food pantries.

Murrells Inlet, S.C., Lodge No. 2797 will continue to repair smiles with the Emergency Dental Care Clinic project. Elks partner with local dentists to run a free dental care clinic for community members in need. Each Thursday night, the clinic opens for business and Elks get things running by greeting patients, scheduling their appointments, and helping them fill out the dreaded paperwork. They also handle the administration and publicity, and build community support.

Fort Worth, Texas., Lodge No. 124 will help recent high school graduates with disabilities find jobs with the Elk Friends project. Elks will partner with a local community center to run job training programs, hold social events, and build a community garden. Elks will start by holding social events for the participants, and pairing each graduate with an Elk mentor. Elks will then help the participants build and maintain a garden at the community center, teaching life skills and promoting healthy eating. Finally, Elks will train participanets to work at the local recycling center shredding paper.

Brenham, Tex., Lodge No. 979 will help residents with disabilities enjoy the great outdoors with the Nature Trail project. Elks will repair and adapt a local hiking trail to make it accessible to all community members. They’ll also add sensory stations, benches and railings along the way to provide a safe and engaging trail for all. Once it’s completed, Elks will hold a kick-off event, and promote their trailblazing work to the community so all can enjoy the new trail.

Provo, Utah, Lodge No. 849 will support at-risk high school students through the Finding Your Independence project. Elks will start a food pantry at the local high school and provide other supplies to students in need. Elks will also help the students learn independent living skills by teaching the basics of how to plan and prepare healthy meals.

St. George ‘Dixie,’ Utah, Lodge No. 1743 will reach out to three groups of students in need with the Youth in Crisis project. Elks will support teenage parents, foster children, children in state care, and students with disabilities. Elks will provide students with food, hygiene products, school supplies and more to help them live healthy, independent lives. Elks will also mentor students, teach independent living skills, and offer support to help students stay in school.

Fond du Lac, Wis., Lodge No. 57 will continue to reach out to at-risk teens in the community through the Open Art Studio project. Each week at a local university, Elks offer teens the chance to express themselves through art. Weekly art sessions often feature lessons from local artists, and always include free art supplies and a warm welcome from the Elks. The program also includes weekly sessions at a local juvenile detention center and will soon expand to three alternative teen living centers.

Watertown, Wis., Lodge No. 666 will continue to help community members receive medical care through the Health Care Equipment for Home Use project. Elks maintain and lend out health care equipment to community members in recovery. Whether it’s a wheelchair or a hospital bed, Elks help community members get healthy without breaking the bank.

Wheeling, W.V., Lodge No. 28 will continue to make Wednesday nights at the soup kitchen family friendly with their Just for Kids project. Elks cook a kid-friendly meal each Wednesday night, and invite children in need to stop by for a night of food and fun. Elks mentor the children, help with homework, and always arrange an educational speaker or activity. The long-running program has helped hundreds of children and their families enjoy a warm meal in a family-friendly atmosphere.


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