Marshall, TX Lodge News
Non Profit Business of the Year 2016
The Marshall Elks Lodge was charted in Marshall, Texas in 1901. The first Elks Lodge building was located in the downtown area, across from the Weismann Center. Many of the charter members were local business men who joined for the social aspect of the organization. The lodge location moved to 411 East Austin in the 1950’s, and the it remains in that same location today.
?Throughout the decades, the lodge has evolved into much more than a social organization, with many Marshall and surrounding area families benefiting from the work that Elks do in our community. Annually, Marshall Elks contribute over $25,000 in Harrison county and other local areas. All programs sponsored by the Marshall Elks benefit children with special needs, their families and Veterans in our community.
Money raised by Marshall Elk members help to fund a 6 or 7-week summer camp for kids with special needs. This camp is located in Gonzales, Texas and several hundred kids from ages 8-14 attend this camp each summer. Many campers have shared that this one week of the year, is the only time they get to enjoy camp experiences that other kids (without special needs) experience daily. We also hear that the week of camp is sometimes the only break that the families and caretakers get each year. In addition to the camp, the Marshall lodge also receives back a % of money that we raise locally. These funds are available through a grant program that helps kids with special needs. Families can apply for assistance for medical expenses, orthotics, dental work, wheelchairs or other support supplies and devices. Our lodge has donated thousands of dollars to families from Marshall, Hallsville, New Diana, Waskom and Carthage in recent years.
Marshall Elks also host a coats for kids drive each year to collect new or gently used coats to give to kids and families in need. B&C Cleaners is a great partner for this program. A Back to School Bash is also an annual event that takes place on the last Saturday of July each year and all kids attending receive school supplies and a free lunch. Patterson Dodge / Toyota, Brownrigg Insurance and Catfish Express Catering are faithful to help sponsor this event. Kids can play games and make crafts and there are always special guests to show up to make the day fun for the kids. This year, we participated in the KMHT Back Pack Program that provides backpacks to kindergarten kids in area schools.
Elk members have also donated cleaning and office supplies, household items and food to the “From Bondage to Freedom House” and this past year, we also donated to the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Pines, to help provide meals to the club kids. In addition, Elks host a monthly free breakfast for the Veterans, Police, Firefighters and First Responders. This breakfast is scheduled on the 3rdSaturday and every Veteran, Police Officer, Firefighter and First Responders and their spouses eat for free. This is a small way we can thank those who so proudly serve all of us.
For the past two years, the Marshall Elks has partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of the Big Pines to plan, organize and fund trips for high school teens to travel to college campuses around the state and boarder states as well. These trips give local teens an opportunity to be inspired and to see what college life is about at a large college or university. Several of the teens have told us that these trips are the only chance they have to experience life outside of Marshall. In addition to the college trips, the Elks also host regular training / mentoring sessions with the teens at the club. Many community partners such as ETBU, TSTC, local city / county officials and business people assist with these sessions. This is a great program that we hope to continue for years to come.
Our lodge has also hosted chili cook offs during 2nd Saturday and the Fireant Festival for the past few years. These events help to bring more people to the downtown area and helps local business owners who benefit from visitors making purchases in their stores and it allows our lodge raise money to help fund programs and it helps us to spread the word about the wonderful work that our members do in this area. Recently, we partnered with the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors to host a couple of fun events to raise money for the Fireant costume for the upcoming festival.
The lodge is currently working with a few local youth organizations that promote youth being active in the outdoors and youth giving back to the community. We are assisting the Panola Archery Club, Harrison County 4-H Shooting Club and a local Cub Scout Troop with some of their events in future months and we are providing supplies for competitions, to ease the burden on the kids and families.
The Marshall lodge currently has 164 members, with several new members awaiting initiation. To qualify to be a member, you must be 21 years of age or older, you must be an American citizen and you must believe in God. We are always looking for new members who are passionate about helping others. We are also working on NOT BEING “the best kept secret” in Marshall. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing that the volunteer hours that you spend and the money that you donate, are doing so much good, for those in need.
Elks Care, Elks Share!
?Copyright 2016 Marshall Elks Lodge