All year, Voluntary Service Representatives visit hospitals, State Veterans Homes, clinics, courts, USOs and Vet Centers to talk with veterans, host social activities, and provide needed supplies. Many volunteers are very busy, going above and beyond the expected with additional projects, extra supplies, and more activities.
The Boost Grant is available once each year to help these volunteers enhance their programming with some extra funds. At the end of the Elks year, certified Representatives can apply for up to $1,000 to boost their activities with a project that may not be possible without additional funding.
Last year, the Boost Grant enabled Voluntary Service Representative Tracie Wells to purchase supplies for new wood turning program at the VA Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Veterans got the chance to learn a new craft and create their own wooden pen. The class was so popular that now there’s a wait list to participate.
At the Chicago Veterans Home, Voluntary Service Representative and Deputy Brian and Sandy Supancic continued their tradition of using the Boost Grant to take residents out to a baseball game. Veterans who could not travel to the game enjoyed a pizza party back at the home, and an ice cream truck also made a visit.
Other volunteers used the grant to provide adaptive sports equipment, gardening projects, resource distribution events, and even a Mad Science experiment demonstration for veterans. The Boost Grant’s flexibility allows volunteers to get creative with their activities.
Boost Grants applications are open online now on the Voluntary Service dashboard. If you are a Voluntary Service Representative, this is your chance to fund an extra project for the veterans you serve. If you’re a Deputy Representative or a fellow Lodge member of a Rep, ask how you can get involved with supporting veterans through Voluntary Service.
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