To members of the Elks, these are more than just words—they are a pledge. A pledge to walk alongside veterans as they adjust to life back at home, a pledge to provide unique care and support to those who sacrificed for us, and a pledge to always be a friend.
With Community Investments Program grants, Elks Lodges uphold this solemn pledge by meeting the needs of local veterans.
Studies have shown that rhythmic, symmetrical movement and outdoor recreation can reduce the symptoms of PTSD. Middletown, Conn., Lodge No. 771 uses this knowledge, along with its merged Beacon and Spotlight Grants, to offer a unique, 18-week recreational therapy program for veterans with PTSD.
Each week, 40 members of the Lodge instruct approximately 60 veterans how to safely kayak in a nearby lake. The Lodge supplies all the necessary equipment, including a device that makes the kayaks accessible to veterans who are disabled. After a relaxing morning on the water, the veterans and volunteers come together for food and friendship.
“The kayaking program has grown beyond our expectations,” says Grants Coordinator Bill Currlin. “The overwhelming support from our Lodge members and local veterans has been heartwarming and encouraging.”
Support from Lodge members is critical to a successful grant project, and St. Cloud, Minn., Lodge No. 2843 takes this wisdom to heart. It uses its Gratitude Grant for a program titled Beyond the Mess Hall. Working with a local non-profit, the St. Cloud Lodge provides cooking classes to veterans facing food insecurity. The project has two purposes: to provide a meal and to teach recipes that can be made with inexpensive ingredients. The class also teaches veterans how to safely store leftovers, then allows them to take the leftovers home or leave them for future veterans in need.
“The need for basic, low-cost, consistent meals is very real in our community,” says Grants Coordinator Glenn Ahrensfeld. “Month after month, participants return with stories about their newfound culinary experiences.”
Several members of the Lodge participate by planning meals, teaching the monthly classes, and providing an empathetic ear. Chattanooga, Tenn., Lodge No. 91 also uses the strengths and expertise of its Lodge members to serve local veterans in meaningful and unique ways.
The Lodge’s Home Sweet Home Impact Grant project helps local veterans with minor home improvements and maintenance. Constructing wheelchair ramps, rebuilding decks, repairing plumbing, and fixing garage doors are just some of the projects that the approximately 30 Elks volunteers have undertaken. Along with their time and expertise, the Elks have also loaned their tools for projects that require special equipment.
“The veterans who have benefitted from the Home Sweet Home project are frequently living in unsafe conditions,” says Project Manager Elizabeth McWilliams. “They have nowhere else to turn for assistance except our Lodge. The work our Elk volunteers have accomplished in these home repairs has tremendously improved the lives of our valued veterans.”
Every day, Elks across the country work tirelessly to give back to those who have sacrificed so much for our country. Whether it is through recreational therapy, cooking classes, home repairs, or countless other projects, the Elks will never stop caring for our nation’s veterans.
For 2024-25, the Elks National Foundation allocated $16.3 million to fund the Community Investments Program. Lodges meet local needs through CIP grants that offer Elks opportunities to serve their 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 elks.org/CIP.