Vernon Elks Lodge donated a total of $13,670 to 13 local organizations (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

$13,670

Vernon Elks Lodge dishes out over $13K to local organizations

Dec 15, 2022 | 1:45 PM

More than a dozen local charities, non-profits and organizations benefited from a round of funding from the Vernon Elks Lodge #45.

A total of $13,670 was handed out to the groups at a cheque presentation event at the Elks Lodge Hall Thursday, Dec. 15.

• BX Scout Group – $500, a historical donation to the group that provides dishwashing services for Elks Club
  Elks Lodge presents BX Scout Group with a cheque (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)
• B.C. Bowl for Kids – $500, a historical donation that will support youth bowling at Lincoln Lanes
• Santa’s Anonymous – $1,000 for supporting families in need at Christmas
  Elks Lodge presents Santa’s Anonymous with a cheque (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters))
• Buoyant Buddies – $1,200 to get new jerseys with the Elks logo for seniors participating in the paddleboarding program they offer
  Elks Lodge presents Buoyant Buddies with their cheque (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)
• North Okanagan Community Life Society (NOCLS) – $500 to support Random Acts of Kindness
  Elks Club presents NOCLS with a cheque (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)
• Lumby Teen Christmas – $500 to provide gifts for teens in need at Christmas
  Elks Lodge presents Lumby Teen Christmas with a cheque (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)
• North Okanagan Hospice – $2,000 to support the new NavCare program that places trained volunteers with individuals dealing with life-limiting illness
  Elks Lodge presents North Okanagan Hospice with a cheque (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)
• Vernon and District Immigrant Services – $1,000 to rent Elks Hall for quarterly potlucks
  Elks Lodge presents the Vernon & District Immigrant Society with a cheque (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)
• Upper Room Mission – $500 to support food security and the shower program
  Elks Lodge presents Upper Room Mission with a cheque (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)
• Abbeyfield House – $1,500 to help with the increasing costs of food
  Elks Lodge presents Abbeyfield House with a cheque (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)
• Registered Music Teacher’s Festival -$500 to support a longstanding scholarship
• North Okanagan Optimist Club – $1,000 to help with costs for Pop-Up Neighbourhood Park Days and maintain inventory of the eight neighbourhood play boxes
  Elks Lodge presents the North Okanagan Optimists Club with a cheque (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)
• Lumby Food Bank – $1,500 to provide food hampers to families in need and $1,470 for Elks hall meat draw rentals
  Elks lodge presents Lumby Food with a cheque (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

Speaking with Vernon Matters, representatives of the Elks Club said it was great to give back to local organizations.

“It was a beautiful Christmas moment and it’s all thanks to the Vernon community, really, that supports the Elks Lodge and then that enables us to give money away,” said Lorna Robb, president of Elks Lodge 45.

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“We thoroughly enjoy supporting our community, so that’s what we’re here for. We want to be a long and lasting part of our community,” added Dave Hoyte, treasurer of Elks Lodge 45

The funds handed out Thursday come from money raised through gaming money, and hosting fundraisers and events like meat draws, music performances and Friday night dinners.

Elks Lodge has a charity committee, which reviews applications from local organizations for financial support.

“They have a procedure and they look at all the applications and then come up with a list that they recommend to the executive, the executive looks at the list and then we take it to the membership and everyone votes on it,” Robb explained.

“I think [the selected groups are] all important at Christmas. Anything with the teens, anything with kids, of course, hospice house and the seniors. I don’t think I can pick out any one of them.I think they’re all great organizations that do good work. The Immigrant Society with the new Canadians and their first Christmas here. It’s just so wonderful to be able to help.”

This was the fourth round of cheque distributions from the Elks Club to support local organizations.

Including the latest round of funding, a total of $33,272 was distributed to local groups in 2022.

“We [hand out money] once a quarter, and we’re a new executive so we’re kind of fine tuning our procedure, and next year I think we’re even more excited because it will be the first year that we know what we’re doing,” laughed Robb.

“We are just doing what the Elks has been doing for the last 102 years. We’re just building on a century of service. We are not the first ones to do this. 102 years ago, the Elks came to Vernon and they’ve been doing this, and we just continue. And we hope that the next wave and generation of people coming and volunteering do the same thing and the Elks continues giving away money and helping the community forever.”

Looking ahead to the next year, Robb said they plan to continue to run events to raise money, including an annual speak-easy event, a community Christmas event, community breakfasts, a beer and burger fundraiser, all of which have been held in previous years.

Additionally, they are also planning to expand into some new live music events that showcase local musicians.

“We’ve been talking to lots of bands, we’re planning music jams, we’re planning monthly bands,” Robb told Vernon Matters.

“I have already lined up [some] bands. We have Petunia and the Vipers coming, we have Chipco Jones playing in January. It’s just so exciting. It’s called Live at the Elks and there will be a new social media platforms on that, so look at what we’re doing and come support the music events, live music in Vernon, and [we will] continue raising money to put back in the community.”

Robb added that any local musicians or bands wishing to take part in shows can contact the the Elks Lodge.