To All Members,
The final numbers are in and thanks to all of your generous donations we finished up No. 2 in the State for ENF with a final per-capita of $27.89, and we finished up No. 1 in the State for Benevolent Trust with a final per-capita of $10.76!
As you know, April 1 marked the beginning of a new Lodge year. On that date I applied for two Grants that were open, the Gratitude Grant and the Freedom Grant. I have just received word that we have been approved for our Gratitude Grant of $3,000.00 and those funds will be distributed as follows:
JROTC $500.00
Boy Scout Troop #201 $500.00
Cub Scout Pack #75 $500.00
Girl Scout Daisy Troop #72014 $500.00
D.A.R.E. $500.00
Least of These $500.00
For the first time ever we have been awarded the Freedom Grant, which is for $2,500.00 to only be used for Veterans homelessness and housing. Our Lodge has partnered with Ozark Veterans Coalition and these Grant funds will be used to provide handicap ramps for Veterans housing. Thank you to Mr. Charlie Hopkins and Mr. Doug Hickman for allowing us to partner with this organization! We will be in need of Elk volunteers to assist with the building of these ramps and perhaps some handyman services for these Veterans. We will post dates when we get this all coordinated with Charlie.
On the Fundraising front, we have two active projects right now. We are helping Boy Scout Troop #201 to sell flavored beef sticks at $1.00 each. The Scouts get to keep approximately 45% of all sales and will use the funds to send the entire troop to camp this summer. Please help us out by purchasing a few of these delicious items available at the Bar in the Lodge.
Our second active project is our Back to School Shopping With Kids program. I will be able to apply for another Grant on the first day of June in hopes of getting $3,000.00 for our kids. Dates have been set at both Wal-marts and are as follows:
Saturday July 10 @ Nixa Wal-Mart Garden Center from 9am – Noon
Saturday July 17 @ Nixa Wal-Mart Garden Center from 9am – Noon
Saturday July 24 @ Ozark Wal-Mart Garden Center from 9am – Noon
Saturday July 31 @ Ozark Wal-Mart Garden Center from 9am – Noon
Right now, it looks like we will have enough funds to take about 150 kids shopping. Last year we were able to take 253 kids shopping. So, please help us again this year to raise enough money to break last year’s record!
As always, we appreciate YOU our wonderful members for all that you do and for all of the people you help. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks truly are the Best People On Earth!!
Fraternally yours,
Ms. Jerry L. Fritchman, PER, Fundraising Chair, Treasurer
