Veterans
Committee
Happy Spring everyone! I'm excited to start a new Elk year - new officers to work with, new ideas to help veterans. This continues with each ER and officer that we've worked with over the years. It's great to be part of different ideas, new mentorship, friendships, and partnerships that come with each year. It's absolutely invaluable.
With this new year also comes the anticipation of new grants—What can we do differently? Who else can we help? Are there new veteran programs and collaborations that we can be involved with.
The veterans committee will continue to give out welcome home kits, play Bingo at the Long Beach VA, give free lunches to needy veterans at homes and the VA. We will help and contribute wherever and to whomever we can.
We will be sponsoring two veterans on a two day fishing trip, out of San Diego. This is an all-expense paid experience, and we'd love to sponsor veterans from the Santa Ana lodge. This fishing trip will happen in August and if you're interested, or have questions, please email veteransteam@elks794.org.
A lot happened in March: March 1 was the 2nd annual veterans Stand Down in Garden Grove and all eight lodges in our South Coast District were involved in putting this together! We had over 200 veterans that showed up for dental work, new eyeglasses, hot meals, clothing, camaraderie and a lot of other resources to help them get back on their feet. As a veteran, I also visited the VA table to make sure I was up to date on the benefits that are available to me. (I've never looked into this, I always thought I'd figure it out and handle it on my own. Sadly, I'm not the only one that thinks like that) Not all veterans know where and how to get help. This is extremely important for those that need to submit a claim, get help to find a place to sleep, a new job..
It was a successful day and thank you to everyone who helped in any capacity.
The veterans committee finished three grants this month - Freedom, Spotlight and the Focus Grant.
The Freedom Grant ($1,000) was used to buy shelving and food to start a food panty at Heroes Landing. This helps the veterans that are currently living there but also valuable to the ones that just moved in that don't have food or anything with them.
The Spotlight Grant ($2,000) was used for the veterans Stand Down - It was used to buy men and women's hygiene packs, hair brushes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, children's clothing, undergarments for women and other items that homeless, needy or unstably housed veterans need for themselves and their families.
The Focus Grant ($10,000) was used for Patriots and Paws. The first portion was for Thanksgiving meals and we provided 80 bags of food which included everything needed to prepare a meal for themselves, friends and family (stuffing, cranberries, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables, yams, chicken broth, brownies.) We also gave out 96 frozen turkeys!
The second part of this grant was used for families who are just moving into their new home. Thirty kitchen kits were put together and given out for a family of four (dish sets, pots/pans, serving utensils, silverware sets, glasses, toasters, microwaves.)
It's such a heartwarming experience to hand these out to people that really need them. Patriots and Paws helps both veterans and active-duty men and women. It's an honor to meet with them and thank them for defending our country.
The veterans committee continues to strive in hopes of being the support to those that need help at this point of their lives. Whether it be food, helping to move to new housing, fixing their vehicle to get to work, finding cloth-ing, laughing or listening, we're here to help.
If you'd like to join, get involved or donate to the veterans committee please let us know. It would be greatly appreciated. To join the committee or stay up to date on veterans events, join us at our next meeting: Tuesday April 15 at 6 pm at the lodge. Send an email to veteransteam@elks794.org or text the word veteransteam to 844-794-3557. Also, check us out at SAElks.com/veterans.
APRIL OBSERVANCES
Gold Star Spouses Day 4/5
Former POW Recognition Day 4/9
Air Force Reserve Birthday 4/14
Army Reserve Birthday - 4/23