The Christian County Elks Back To School Shopping for Kids program began in 2011 when they partnered with Least Of These Food Pantry to help provide school aged underprivileged children in our area with clothing to start the school year in. What child does not want to start school in a new outfit? The Christian County Elks believe that it is important to the youth in our community. Many families are having a hard time making ends meet and we want to make a difference. The Elks were able to help 30 children in that first year.
Our community Walmart stores have assisted the Christian County Elks from the very beginning by providing a separate, tax free register at their Ozark location. That location assisted us with our first Walmart Foundation Grant and the number of children taken shopping grew to 83.
Four years ago, the Nixa Walmart helped the Elks with yet another Walmart Foundation Grant and separate, tax free shopping registers for these children. With their help, the Elks were able to raise $25,000.00 last year and took 253 underprivileged children shopping for back to school clothing. This is quite amazing as our Lodge only has 155 members.
The Elks would like to thank these contributors as well as the many individuals and Elks members who have contributed funds:
Walmart Foundation Grants Allstate Helping Hands Grant
Elks National Foundation Grants Bee Payne-Stewart Foundation
Finley River Community Foundation White River Valley Electric Coop
GFWC Utopia Club of Ozark Freemont Hills Country Club
Christian County Shrine Club Cosmopolitan Club
Kiwanis Club of the Ozarks D & D Heating
Royal Tin Street Rods Ozark Bank
Southern Bank Midwest Transit Equipment, Inc.
Campbell Ford Ozark Chevrolet, Inc.
Ozark Abstract & Title Cassidy United Methodist Church
Draper Plumbing, LLC Bell CPA, LLC
Elks Care and Elks Share, and we can attest that our Community does too. We would love to add your name to this list. To donate to this worthy cause, please contact one of our Members or come by the Lodge for a visit.
