Elks Lodge 1291 Veteran Activities

VETERANS CRISIS LINE

The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans and their families and friends with qualified and caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hot line, on line chat or text. They can call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1, chat on line or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Support for the deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available.

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Military Times

Defense Officials approve expanded Veterans on-line shopping benefits.

CLICK HERE to see how it will work.

Veterans Committee August 2022

Lakeland Lodge 1291 never ceases to amaze! The Veterans Flag Sale Fundraiser started off slow but finished with a bang just before the 4th of July deadline. The $1000.00 goal was met!! Our members are truly the best!

The 4th of July was a great success! Steve Masterton, PER cooked and ran the kitchen along with Scott Lewis and Anne Marie Wendel. Marla Sale cooked and donated the potato salad, Vickie Crosby made and donated the coleslaw and the corn was donated by Shannon Benzel and Char. A special thank you goes to them and a few others who volunteered at the event. Penny Deig, Kristen Francks, Len and Pauline Craighead, Sandy Fuschetti, Carrie Howard and Hank Cobb. I cannot say it enough…volunteers are the key to our functions. Thank you again! In total the event raised just over $2,900.00.

While they are still on restrictions from visiting the lodge we are reminding the Medical Foster Veterans that Lakeland Elks are thinking of them. Penny Deig crafted a therapy tool/toy for them and we sent it along with a short note to Kathryn for her to distribute to the veterans. We also granted a wish of one patient to be able to go to the movies by providing a $50 gift card to the movie theater. I am sharing Kathryn’s email:

“TEAM…. The Lakeland Elks continue to spread the ❤, joy, and connection to their brothers/sisters in arms. We were able to send this little bit of “community connection” to all of our Lakeland Medical Foster Veterans for the upcoming Holiday. So sweet to have this camaraderie albeit from a distance from such a giving organization.

REC Therapy uses these gifts in treatment for cognitive and, if the Veteran is able, for fine motor skills to write you notes. Great opportunities for discussing positive experiences in our lives. We ALL can use a little bit of such sweetness. Happy 4th everyone! ❤ Kathryn”

Remember to SAVE THE DATE for our Annual Veteran Silent Auction & Dinner which will be on Friday 11/11/22. We are actively working on donations, both auction items and monetary. Please contact Char or Kristen if you can help with a donation or if you want to assist with the event.

“So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.”

Char and Kristen

Fundraiser results…

December 2021 Fundraiser

We are very excited about our recent fundraiser that was held on Friday November 12th. We sold out of tickets and served 130 meals that evening.

We’d like to thank Bob and Cindy Peabody who did an amazing job on the BBQ ribs! They were definitely award winning ribs. Thank you to Steve Masterton, PER and Phil Lawson for all of their hard work in the kitchen and with the side dishes. Dessert was compliments of Anne-Marie Wendel. Raffle baskets were a big hit. We need to thank Anne-Marie Wendel and her friend Margaret Carter who went above and beyond and donated 12 raffle baskets. Sandy Fuschetti, Cathy Swann and Alice Murray also need to be thanked for their basket donations. Penny Deig and Hank Cobb took charge of the 50/50, and you couldn’t miss them in their festive hats with flashing lights.

Due to generous donations from our members and event volunteers, we had numerous silent auction items. A special thank you and shout out to Vicki Wolf for taking the lead with the auction. Her dedication, drive and determination was behind raising the most funds possible. We also want to thank all volunteers that helped with this event. There are too many to list, but you know who you are. We have the best team ever and this was all made possible by everyone working together.

We are extremely excited to announce that for this event weekend, the total of auction items, raffles, 50/50, member donations, corporate donations and additional donations we have raised $22,117.00. This has been our largest amount raised for veterans in lodge history. This could not have happened without the support of everyone involved, all volunteers and of course, our wonderful lodge members!

We are now able to continue our work as Elks and assist veterans. Thank you to everyone at 1291 for all of your support, assistance and generosity.
Char and Kristen

Committee Report May, 2021

We are just beginning to get started. Saturday May 15th, was our Armed Forces Day event, and what a fantastic event. The meal was catered by Carrabbas, and the entertainment was provided by our own Mark Hussey. Mark did an outstanding and amazing job. He provided interesting and fun facts on some “big name” veterans throughout the evening and his music kept the crowd moving all night long. He donated his tips for the evening back to our veterans fund. THANK YOU Mark, for a wonderful evening and for all that you do!

The kitchen volunteers, Steve Masterton, Anne Marie Wendel, Johnny Francks, Patty Strickland, Karen Hervey, Ryann Sands, and Cathy Swann plated and served flawlessly. A special thank you goes to them and a few other volunteers from the evening, Alice Murray, Vicki Baker, Justin Troller, Ann Murray, Scott Lewis, Kristen Francks and Christy Frady. Volunteers are the key to our functions and this group did a spectacular job at this event. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

As the deadline for this article is due, we are still waiting to confirm a final number, but it appears that after expenses, our first fundraiser brought in $2,065.00! So, again, a huge thank you, to you, the members for making this possible. Lakeland Lodge has the best members that continue to amaze with their support and generosity!!

Our next veteran event will be a Fourth of July picnic. See our flyer for details.

“So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, will never forget them.”
Here’s to another great year,

Char and Kristen

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