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Kissimmee Elks Lodge members stand in front of household items collected for veterans.
With military veterans having a special place at the Kissimmee Elks Lodge, it’s no surprise the club did something special for them.
Area veterans are receiving a wave of household items collected through a grant and donations.
The Kissimmee Elks Lodge No. 1873 received a $2,000 grant from the Elks National Foundation, which is designated for community projects. The Welcome Home grant is geared toward helping veterans who have been approved for subsidized housing by the Veterans Administration. Approval is granted after interviews and an examination testing their fiscal and physical abilities to maintain a residence.
“We really steadfastly support veterans activities,” said Lorraine Barker, grant writer for the Elks Lodge. “We try to keep ourselves active in what they’re doing.”
With the $2,000, the Elks were ready to put 10 packages together of household items.
“The dream was to create these packages for them so when they’re going into the housing,” Barker said.
“We assume they have almost nothing.”
But the Elks decided to go even further. They posted a flier in the Elks lounge asking for donations for the cause. And at an instillation dinner for the new officers, members were told they didn’t have to pay the $10 fee as long they brought in household items.
Even non-members donated money after they learned about the campaign
The efforts paid dividends.
“We really got a load,” Barker said. “We got so many things it was just amazing.”
Between the grant and the donated money and items, the Elks were able to collect items such as toasters, blankets, silverware, pillows, shower curtains, microwaves, toaster ovens, dishes and first aid kits.
The items were dropped off at an office at the Orlando VA medical center at Lake Nona, which will deliver them to the veterans.
The Elks still have a cash stash left over which will be used when the VA needs financial support for a veteran.
According to the Elks National Veterans Service Commission, every night, as many as 40,000 veterans are living on the streets. Each with a different story, they all shared a common pledge: to support and defend the U.S. In partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Elks National Veterans Service Commission has pledged to help end veteran homelessness, and ensure that every veteran has the safe, stable home.
“It was an exciting time for us,” Barker said of the collection efforts. “The neatest thing I think was we got the whole club involved, but the amount of money we collected was just incredible.”
