Lodge members volunteer at the food pantry every other Wednesday, helping unload trucks of foodstuffs, organize the stockroom, and prepare the distribution room for the pantry’s clients. The Lodge has used CIP grants to bolster the food supply and cover operational costs since 2023, and members have never been shy about offering to help with the pantry’s heavy lifting.
Upon arrival, Kayuha and Lorenz hardly had a chance to say hello before being assigned a cart to unload. While finding room to stock boxes of rice and beans, acquaintances were made with the Joliet Elks members, all of whom were already hard at work. Nearly a dozen Elks were present, including Exalted Ruler Debra Bruno-Nevin and Grants Coordinator Jeff Sterr, and taking part in a variety of tasks. There was no waiting around for something to do; the pantry’s supervisor was quick to direct anyone who appeared to be idle. Spills needed to be cleaned, boxes needed to be broken down, and room still needed to be found for the rice and beans.
The H.E.A.L. (which stands for Healthy Eating And Living) Garden and Food Pantry is part of the River Walk Homes complex, an affordable housing development near downtown Joliet. In addition to the rental subsidies the facility offers, there are also homework assistance programs and a computer lab for residents. The onsite pantry provides food support for those who need it; residents are also welcome to volunteer, which gives them an opportunity to give back and develop organizational skills.
It took two hours for two semi-trucks to be unloaded, and before long, the stockroom was nearing capacity—the kind of problem a food pantry wants to have. That meant it was time for the volunteers to arrange the facility’s front room, which would act as a grocery store for the pantry’s clients. At H.E.A.L., clients are given a box and run of the room, able to fill up with items needed for them and their families. From perishables like meat, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and milk, to snack foods, all the nutritional groups are represented. The delivery aided by ENF staff was the last one before the Thanksgiving shipment, and it supported the clients until the time came to return for cranberry sauce, stuffing and the works.
“This was my first time visiting a grant project, and I couldn't have asked for a more welcoming and friendly group to work with,” says Lorenz. “Of course, when you are serving your community with some much-needed food, how could you be in a bad mood?”
The CIP office makes an effort to visit Lodge grant projects that are near the Elks headquarters in Chicago (sometimes, we make it to projects that are not so nearby ). It is always rewarding to meet Elks in person and lend a hand to a Lodge’s charitable works—you never know, maybe we’ll turn up at your Lodge’s door next!
Beacon, Spotlight, and Gratitude Grant applications are open through January 22, 2025. For more information, visit elks.org/cip, or contact the CIP office at 773/755-4730 or LodgeGrants@elks.org.