Who are the Elks?
Elks are community.No matter where you go in the country, an Elks Lodge is right around the corner. With more than 770,000 members and 1,800 Lodges nationwide, Elks are providing charitable services that help build stronger communities. Click here to join us in service to your community!
Veterans News
Elks use Boost Grants to Lift Veteran Spirits
Date Posted: 1/19/2024
What do skiing, ice cream, and virtual reality have in common? Read more.
ENVSC 2022-23 Annual Report
Date Posted: 11/13/2023
Every day, our volunteers are proving that Elks will never forget our nation's veterans. This report is our attempt to offer an overview of our work and the individual stories that make that work so meaningful. Take a look! Read more.
The 2023-24 ENVSC Mid-Year Report
Date Posted: 10/18/2023
Halfway through the Elks year, participation in the Elks Voluntary Service Program has returned to pre-Covid levels, 600 Freedom Grant projects are in motion, and the Welcome Home Kit program continues to break records. Read more about what Elks have accomplished for veterans in 2023-24 so far. Read more.
Food, Friendship, and Focus Grants
Date Posted: 9/19/2023
There are countless ways to serve homeless veterans, and Elks are chock-full of creative and thoughtful ideas. Ready to get started with your own big idea? Read on for some examples of how Elks around the country are using grant funds, and learn how to apply for an ENF Community Investments Programs (CIP) grant to reach veterans in your community. Read more.
Deputy Representatives are an Integral Part of Voluntary Service
Date Posted: 9/19/2023
Have you ever thought about getting involved with Voluntary Service, but you're not sure where to start? Read on for more information about how to become a Deputy Representative. Read more.
Boost Grants Inspire Voluntary Service Reps to Go Above and Beyond
Date Posted: 8/22/2023
Each year, Voluntary Service Representatives have the chance to expand service at their facilities. Read about how these volunteers are taking advantage of this opportunity. Read more.
Elk Member Brian Kinney Chosen as VA NAC Male Volunteer of the Year!
Date Posted: 8/14/2023
The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks is proud to announce that Brian Kinney of Cynthiana, Ky., Lodge No. 438 was awarded the VA NAC Male Volunteer of the Year for 2023! Read more.
Nourishing Community Through Communal Gardens
Date Posted: 7/25/2023
Members of Fremont, Calif., Lodge No. 2121 used a grant to build raised gardens beds at a supportive housing complex for formerly-homeless veterans. In addition to fruits and vegetables, the volunteer helped plant the seeds of community. Read more.
ENVSC in Minneapolis: Read our Convention Recap
Date Posted: 7/14/2023
Did you miss the ENVSC at the Convention in Minneapolis? Want to relive the fun? Check out our recap. From celebrations to trainings to boxes and boxes of socks, we lived it up at the 2023 Elks National Convention. Read about all the fun. Read more.
Congratulations to the 2023 Elks Veterans Service Volunteer of the Year
Date Posted: 7/14/2023
Announcing Thomas Kramin of Willmar, Minn., Lodge No. 952 as the 2023 Elks Veterans Service Volunteer of the Year! Read more.
ENVSC in Minneapolis
Date Posted: 6/27/2023
Will you be in Minneapolis for the Elks National Convention this July? If so, please join us at these Veterans Service events! Read more.
Spring is Here and Voluntary Service Reps are Busy!
Date Posted: 5/16/2023
Baseball, gardening, and cookouts are on the schedule for warmer weather. Read more.
ENVSC in 2023-24
Date Posted: 3/22/2023
We have big plans for the year ahead: more beds for veterans, more funds for Voluntary Service Representatives, and the return of flexible Freedom Grants! Read more.
Joining Forces: A Guide to Building Strong Partnerships for Focus Grants
Date Posted: 3/21/2023
Check out our tips for building lasting relationships with community partners, such as HUD-VASH departments at the VA, Community Resource and Referral Centers, national and local nonprofits, and veterans’ shelters. Read more.
Welcome Home Kits: It Only Takes a Little to get Started
Date Posted: 2/28/2023
The Welcome Home Kit program is growing in popularity each year! We caught up Linda Califf of Gainesville, Fla, Lodge No. 990 about how her Lodge got hooked on helping veterans with home supplies.
Read more.
Tips for Serving Homeless Veterans
Date Posted: 2/23/2023
As a member of San Rafael, Calif., Lodge No. 1108, Peter Behr uses a combination of grants, Welcome Home Kits, and Lodge funds to aid veterans facing homelessness. Here, read about Peter's process and his advice for other volunteers. Read more.
The Latest Voluntary Service News
Date Posted: 1/18/2023
Get inspired by some of the latest activities that Elks volunteers are organizing for veterans in their communities! Read more.
Elks Serving Veterans During the Holidays
Date Posted: 12/14/2022
The holidays are here! Elks are holding to the pledge to remember veterans and serve them during this holiday season. Read more.
Changing Lives with Focus Grants
Date Posted: 12/14/2022
Big things are afoot with Focus Grants! Read about how Elks have been serving veterans experiencing homelessness. Read more.
ENVSC 2022-23 Mid-year Report
Date Posted: 11/8/2022
It's halfway through the Elks year, and ENVSC volunteers are set to break participation records. Read all about it in our mid-year report! Read more.
Celebrating Veterans Remembrance Month
Date Posted: 10/31/2022
In an effort to recognize and support our nation’s veterans, Elks National President Bruce Hidley has proclaimed November to be Veterans Remembrance Month. Let's celebrate with service! Read more.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month
Date Posted: 8/30/2022
One way that Elks can help prevent suicide is to spread the word about the new Veterans Crisis Line. Read more.
Welcoming Veterans Home in Florida
Date Posted: 8/29/2022
Lodges across the country have started participating in Welcome Home Kit Program to better serve transitional veterans that may have been homeless. We reached out to Live Oak, Fla., Lodge No. 1165 to ask about their first time participating in the program.
Read more.An Ounce of Prevention
Date Posted: 8/24/2022
Learn how the Emergency Assistance Fund helps veterans remain stably housed in times of crisis. Read more.
Elks in Atlanta
Date Posted: 6/23/2022
It was a hot time in Atlanta for the 2022 Elks National Convention. Read all about it!
Read more.Veterans "Tackle" New Experiences
Date Posted: 6/1/2022
Members of Westchester, Calif., Lodge No. 2050 know that everyone needs a little adventure in life. Elks use a Focus Grant to host a series of outdoor excursions for homeless veterans, including fishing and whale-watching trips. Read more.
Focus Grants in Action
Date Posted: 5/18/2022
Last year, Elks volunteers were busier than ever serving homeless veterans. Check out some of our favorite Focus Grant photos from 2021-22! Read more.
Elks Family Traditions at Hoop Shoot
Date Posted: 5/17/2022
It wasn’t just basketball that brought people together at the recent Elks Hoop Shoot National Finals. As a way to connect contestants and their families with the Elks’ mission of service, the weekend included a service activity. Read about it here! Read more.
Elks Member Stewart Israel chosen as the VA NAC Male Volunteer of the Year
Date Posted: 4/22/2022
The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks is proud to announce that Stewart Israel of Plymouth-Ann Arbor, Mich., Elks Lodge No. 325 has been selected as the VA NAC Male Volunteer of the Year! Read more.
Serving Veterans in Rural Communities
Date Posted: 4/13/2022
Learn more about the conditions faced by veterans living in rural communities, and how you can serve them. Read more.
Freedom Grant Webinar & News
Date Posted: 3/15/2022
Freedom Grant applications are online now through April 15. Watch a recording of our 2022-23 Freedom Grant Webinar, and learn about program changes. Consider applying for a $1,000 Freedom Grant Spark!
Voluntary Service Spring Activity
Date Posted: 3/15/2022
Voluntary Service Representatives are returning to veterans' facilities. Here's a look at some of the activities they have been hosting. Read more.
In Their Own Words
Date Posted: 2/24/2022
Each veteran facing homelessness has their own story to tell. Read what veterans have to say about how the Emergency Assistance Fund has impacted their lives. Read more.
Fighting Veteran Hunger
Date Posted: 1/25/2022
Food insecurity can impact anyone, even veterans. Here's how your Lodge can help! Read more.
National Salute to Veteran Patients Week
Date Posted: 1/25/2022
How are Elks getting involved in the VA's annual celebration of veteran patients? Read more about it here. Read more.
The Compassion Cure
Date Posted: 12/15/2021
A new program from VA to fight veteran isolation. Read more.
Elks Partner with Oscar Mike
Date Posted: 11/17/2021
The Elks National Veterans Service Commission is partnering with Oscar Mike to create more adaptive sports opportunities for veterans! We've designed 4 items to help celebrate the 75th anniversary of the ENVSC and support the Oscar Mike Foundation. Check them out here. Read more.
Halfway to the Finish Line
Date Posted: 11/8/2021
The Elks fiscal year is officially half over. Read about what the ENVSC accomplished so far in 2021-22! Read more.
Elks Share Voluntary Service Experiences
Date Posted: 11/8/2021
In October, ENVSC hosted the first online panel discussion with Representatives from the Voluntary Service program. Read on for some of the ideas our volunteers shared during the panel. Read more.
Veterans Remembrance Month
Date Posted: 11/1/2021
November is Veterans Remembrance Month! You can celebrate by joining your fellow Elks in service to veterans. Read more.
Voluntary Service Zoom Event
Date Posted: 10/20/2021
Learn about the Voluntary Service program and hear how ENVSC volunteers have been serving veterans in their communities at our first ever Voluntary Service panel discussion. Read more.
Elks Voluntary Service: By the Numbers
Date Posted: 10/18/2021
Elks members and their spouses starting volunteering in VA facilities in 1955. Since then, the Elks Voluntary Service Program has grown exponentially, to serve veterans wherever they seek care. Read more.
Battling Veteran Homelessness
Date Posted: 10/15/2021
In 2015, the ENVSC made a pledge to help end veteran homelessness. Read about how our Emergency Assistance Fund is shaping veterans' futures and giving them the security they deserve! Read more.
Supporting Mental Health During a Pandemic
Date Posted: 9/15/2021
As a volunteer, learn how you can support mental health and wellbeing for the veterans in your life. Read more.
Community Connections Help Veterans Thrive
Date Posted: 8/23/2021
Learn how members of one California Lodge form lasting connections with the veterans they serve. Read more.
Teamwork Builds a Home
Date Posted: 8/17/2021
Find out how a truckload of donations helped grow a new partnership with ESA to benefit veterans exiting homelessness. Read more.
An Exhausting and Productive Year
Date Posted: 8/13/2021
The past year and a half have been tumultuous, to say the least. Longstanding projects were shaken up, canceled, or reworked entirely. Lodges scrambled to navigate ever-changing guidelines, trying to serve veterans while ensuring everyone’s safety.
One woman who handled the roller coaster of last year with grace and determination is Emma Pletz of Milwaukie-Portland, Ore., Lodge No. 142, earning her the title of 2021 National Veterans Service Volunteer of the Year! Read more.
Welcome Home: Words of Wisdom
Date Posted: 7/22/2021
From every corner in the country, Elks members came together to talk shop about serving homeless veterans. Tune in to read tips and tricks from experienced Elks volunteers! Read more.
A Windy and Wonderful Time
Date Posted: 7/22/2021
Despite a looming hurricane, we had a terrific time in Tampa for the Elks National Convention. Read all the ENVSC news from Convention. Read more.
Help Heal Veterans Name Elks their 2021 Partner of the Year!
Date Posted: 7/9/2021
For the past 20 years, Elks have been working closely with Help Heal Veterans, which helps veterans recover and thrive by providing free therapeutic arts and crafts kits to hospitalized and homebound veterans.
Read more about this partnership and how it helps thousands of veterans every year! Read more.
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