- Details
- Category: Current Issue
caption:
Gift Giving
The Putnam Elks were able to help 112 families during the holiday season. Courtesy photo.
PUTNAM — Members of Putnam Elks Lodge #574 provided more than 425 people (112 families) with a holiday food basket this year – loading up cars or personally delivering boxes Dec. 21.
Each box, carefully packed for families of two to nine, contained not just Christmas dinner, but enough food for the entire day, said Elks National Foundation Grant Project Manager and Esteemed Leading Knight Lysa Molnar.
Christmas Charities Co-Chair and Past Exalted Ruler Mike Vandi said that this year had the highest number of families served by the Elks Lodge. Ninety-three families were served last year – the highest up until now. Committee members work with schools, the Housing Authority, service organizations and local grocery stores to ensure a smooth operation.
All of this and more made is possible through member donations (currently up to almost $10,000) and a $2,000 Beacon Grant from the Elks National Foundation, used to augment member donations to the Christmas Charities Fund. The Putnam lodge earned the full amount of the grant this year after being awarded $1,000 last year – an acknowledgement of their strong and continued commitment to community.
“Through Beacon Grants, the Elks National Foundation gives Lodges the opportunity to develop an ongoing, charitable, Elks-driven community project.”
In addition, the Putnam lodge has been recognized by the Elks National Foundation as a ‘Community Builder,’ cited for their charitable work and commitment to ensuring that “all community members have enough to eat while celebrating the season.”
The Putnam Elks also provided turkeys to other local support organizations, like the Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group.
Earlier in December, Santa provided 94 children with gifts at the Elks Lodge, an increase from last year’s 82 – another effort made possible through the Christmas Charities fund.
Following distribution, past exalted rulers tended bar to raise money for a local service organization. Last year, $500 was donated to Daily Bread.