Members of the Elks Lodge and the organizations receiving funds through the annual Christmas Giving campaign (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters Staff)

By Liam Verster

Giving Back

‘There is a lot of need out there’: Elks Lodge donates funds to local organizations

Dec 18, 2023 | 12:38 PM

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for several Vernon-based organizations.

The Vernon Elks Lodge #45 donated a combined $11,500 to 11 local non-profit groups at its annual Christmas Giving event.

The recipients this year were the Animal Auxiliary, the Archway Society for Domestic Peace, Forever Home Sanctuary, North Okanagan Hospice Society, Lumby Food Bank, Lumby Teens Christmas Bureau, Okanagan Learning Foundation, Santa’s Anonymous, Vernon and District Immigrant and Community Services Society, Salvation Army Hamper Program, and the Upper Room Mission.

The groups sent representatives to the Elks Lodge to receive their cheques Monday, Dec. 18.

Vernon Elks Lodge #45 distributed the cheques to the organizations selected for the Christmas Giving campaign Monday, Dec. 18. (photos by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters Staff)

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Vernon Elks Lodge members and the recipients of the Chirstmas Giving donations (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters Staff)

Speaking with Vernon Matters after the cheques were handed out, Elks Treasurer, Dave Hoyte, said these funds can be critical to the groups.

“This year, there’s a lot of need out there in the community and we’re just very thankful that we can help out however we can,” Hoyte said.

“For everyone, it’s a gesture that it’s definitely needed, and all those organizations are in need, going through the two years of COVID and when obviously donations were down, and now the need is up and hopefully we can help to put out a few of the fires that are out there.”

Hoyte noted the $11,500 was comparable to past Christmas Giving donation totals.

The funds were obtained primarily though provincial community gaming grants as well as from hosting events and fundraisers through the year.

“It’s been a really good year for us. We’ve had a lot of events, helped out a lot of people, and we’re just happy to be able to do that,” Terry Black, second vice president of Vernon Elks Lodge, told Vernon Matters.

The organizations that received funding through the Christmas Giving event were selected by a charity committee which reviewed applications and made recommendations for the members to vote on.

Groups wishing to apply for the next round of funding can do so by visiting the Vernon Elks website.

by Liam Verster

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