The Lodge also uses grants to support military members, host drug-free activities for youth, and hold a community health and safety fair, and blood drive. Nominated for our 2013 CIP Volunteer of the Year award, Linardich shares some of her expert Project Manager advice in the interview below.
How did you first get involved with CIP Grants?
I got involved with the Elks through a friend, a long time ago now. Once we found out there was grant money to help fund some of the youth activities we could do as a Lodge, I thought, “We need to use this money.” Of course, then the ENF expanded the grant programs and that really helped a lot. Proportionally, we’ve expanded our outreach in the community through grants. (At right: A local family enjoys the safety day with Elroy and the town fire-clown.)
How does your Lodge generally come up with project ideas? For example, your Lodge is going to use this year’s Promise Grant for monthly dinners for Standup for Kids. How did that idea come about?
I work with a friend who says she lives near a lot of homeless kids. She volunteers with the group, and it was word of mouth. I contacted them and started the ball rolling. We started by letting Stand up for Kids tell us what to do. They have certain rules, and restrictions. So we partnered with them, and the ball rolled from a home-cooked meal once
a month to making hygiene packets for the kids, and other supplies so they can have that in their knapsack. We help them get food together, we got invited to help serve Christmas dinner, and we were invited to cook for a large party for the kids at a shelter with counselors and food and music.
This partnership led us to a lot of things and it’s rewarding. It’s blossomed into a conversation with other people trying to serve the community. Instead of just giving money, we feel like we’ve had an impact on people’s lives.
Most of your projects have strong Elks involvement. How do you get members involved and excited?
We do a lot of communication through emails and texts about what’s going on. We share ideas and then sit down twice a month with officers and others interested in helping. We ask people to come prepared to the meetings.
Some of the time I actually approach specific people. 
I’ll ask, “Hey, can you help me with picking up a dessert, or picking up some food?” Sometimes people just need to be asked, or told. I always advertise in the newsletter, it’s always in our email list, and I give my phone number. Even if people couldn’t come and help serve, they could help cook some food. It’s really hard to get people involved to a degree because they have busy lives. I always try to keep it simple. (At right: Elks and scouts get together to pack hygiene and care kits for teens in the program.)
The Elks National Foundation will help Lodges meet local needs by investing up to $6.5 million this year in Elks communities through Beacon, Gratitude, Promise and Impact Grants. These grants offer Lodges an opportunity to serve the community in ways that will raise the Lodge’s profile, energize the membership, encourage former members to return to the fold, and gain the notice of people who want to be part of an organization that’s doing great things. To learn more about the Community Investments Program, please visit www.elks.org/enf/community.