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Meeting the needs of today’s veterans

Coming Together forVeteransIt started with a bang and ended with a pandemic. In 2019-20, we began theThe Elks National Veterans Service Commission operates thanks to a generousyear with our largest budget ever. We increased the number of Freedom Grantsgrant from the Elks National Foundation. The Commission members and I areto 325, we extended the Welcome Home program for 2 more years, and wevery grateful to the ENF for their continued and generous support. We extendcontinued to grow and enhance the longstanding Voluntary Service Program.special thanks to Grand Secretary Bryan R. Klatt and the Grand Lodge staff, aswell as to the Grand Lodge Sponsors for their assistance. And we are of courseAltogether, our volunteers served more than 1 million veterans in 2019-20, inindebted to our volunteers, without whom none of this would be possible.ways big and small. When veterans were hospitalized and recovering, Elks werethere. When veterans were living in a home away from family, Elks were there.When veterans were exiting homelessness and finally moving into a home, Elkswere there.Elks were there to host events, bring supplies, provide assistance, and offerSincerely,David R. Carr, ChairPaul D. Helsel, Past ChairJohn D. Amen, Vice-ChairJames L. Nichelson, Past ChairRonald L. Hicks, Secretary/Treasurerfriendship. And sometimes, to offer the simple knowledge that someone cares,As we closed down the year, everything seemed to change so quickly. Our volunteers struggled with how to serve veterans from afar, to keep everyone safe,but continue to be there.Elks adapted, changed, cancelled and rescheduled events. Instead of a StandDown, Elks walked into the community to directly hand out supplies. Instead ofa visit, Elks bought iPads and taught veterans to FaceTime. Instead of hostingBingo, Elks had pizza and board games delivered to the veterans.Because Elks are always there for veterans. The 2019-20 fiscal year was nodifferent. We hope you enjoy reading about our work this past year.In 2019-20:someone remembers.1,019,765veterans served143,056Elks volunteered a total of594,834 hours16,764military members and theirfamilies were helped throughthe Army of Hope program21,660veterans received ongoingsupport from Elks membersthrough the Adopt-a-Veteranprogram14,000packs of cards were donatedto veterans through the ElksPlaying Cards for Veteransprogram

VoluntaryServiceVoluntary Service Representatives and Deputy636Representatives interact directly with veteransElks serve asEvery day, every week and every month, ourin 349 facilities across the country.Representatives orRepresentative Darrell Quinley (in blue) serves lunchat the St. Michael’s Veterans Center Stand Down,alongside other members of Grandview-HickmanMills, Mo., Lodge 2088.Deputy RepresentativesOur Representatives visit these facilities anin 349 facilitiesaverage of 2.5 times each month, to hostactivities, donate supplies and meet directlywith veterans to offer friendship and support.Altogether, Elks volunteered more than 155,000hours in veterans’ facilities in 2019-20 alone.155,628Our volunteers are so widely recognized and depended uponElks volunteer hoursThese frequent visits allow our volunteers not49,106just to meet the needs of the veterans, but toveterans served eachhelp identify these needs and brainstorm newmonth on averageactivities and programs to serve the veterans.Voluntary Service RepresentativeLeonard Mills distributes suppliesat an outreach event for veteransin need at the Vancouver VAMedical Center.that one of them was chosen as a VA Voluntary Service NationalAdvisory Committee Volunteer of the Year! Congratulations to H.Lee Davis of Essex, Md., Lodge No. 1866 for his award! Davis, anArmy Veteran himself, has volunteered more than 4,000 hours at“the VA over his 31 years as a volunteer.I’ve known and worked with Lee within the Elks for about30 years and there is no Elk more devoted to fulfilling thelongstanding Elks Pledge – So long as there are veterans,the Elks will never forget them – than H. Lee Davis.”– Paul Helsel, PGER

WelcomeHomeArlington-Fairfax, Va., Lodge No. 2188 joined forces with five other Lodgesthroughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area to provide furniture andhousehold supplies to veterans. Here, a veteran and her family pose in frontof the Welcome Home Trailer with volunteers from six Lodges.Our Welcome Home program serves some of the most vulnerable veteransin the country by offering them support, access to housing and the homeWe also awarded 28 Focus Grants to Lodges in the 8 cities with the highestsupplies they need to succeed.number of homeless veterans. Those 28 Lodges served an additional 4,837veterans experiencing homelessness with home kits, meals and foodIn 2019-20, Elks provided 1,665 kits of supplies to veterans moving intobaskets, educational programs and other needed services.new homes through the Welcome Home Kit program, giving each of theseveterans a fresh start as they exit homelessness.Through the Elks Emergency Assistance fund, we’ve also helped 5485484,8371,665veterans safely housedveterans served throughWelcome Home Kitsthrough Elks EmergencyFocus GrantsprovidedAssistanceRedlands, Calif., Lodge No. 583partnered with Lighthouse SocialService Centers to purchase anddeliver Welcome Home Kits fortwenty-five veterans. The veteransserved had recently transitionedfrom homelessness to living inpermanent supportive housing.veterans prevent or exit homelessness, thanks to assistance with thingslike rent, security deposits, and utilities. Each of these veterans received anaverage of 1,507 in assistance, a small amount to ensure that a veteran and“their family have a safe, stable place to live.I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Welcome Home Kits. We make suchan impact every month on these veterans, some with youngfamilies, some that have been homeless, some that havegone through a program and are getting their fresh start. Thegratitude from them is sometimes overwhelming. It is awesometo be able to help so many.”– Kim Coronado, Chula Vista, Calif., Lodge No. 2011

VeteransLeatherProgram17,23410,6203,075hides donatedcraft kits distributedwheelchair glovesby Elksdonated6,339 square feet of leather was donated directly to VA Medical Centers,so recreation therapists can plan creative projects focused on helpingveterans recover.And Elks donated more than 83,870 square feet of leather to Help HealVeterans (HHV), which turns this leather into craft kits to help recoveringveterans. In return, HHV helped Elks volunteers in State Veterans HomesThe Veterans Leather Program brings Elks and community volunteersand elsewhere hand out 10,620 craft kits directly to veterans in theirtogether to collect hides for veterans.communities.Elks and volunteers in 12 states donated 17,234 hides to the Veterans LeatherWe are indebted to Leather Program Chair Dennis McAleese andProgram in 2019-20, which were finished and used for 3 purposes.Vice-Chair Chuck Mudge for managing nearly all day-to-day aspectsof this program and keeping things running smoothly.Some of this leather is turned into wheelchair gloves, and Elks across thecountry distributed 3,075 pairs of these gloves to veterans!Members of Elk Grove, Calif., Lodge No. 2577 donatewheelchair gloves and other supplies to the VA.Top donorsMissouri was #1 withArkansas was #2 withIowa was #3 with8,742 donated hides3,274 donated hides2,927 donated hides

FreedomGrantsPratt, Kan., Lodge No. 1451 used their grant to planta flower and vegetable garden for veterans at KansasSoldiers’ Home in Fort Dodge.3276,43035,87148,033In 2019-20, we awarded 2,000 Freedom GrantsFreedom GrantsElks involvedveterans servedElks volunteer hoursto 327 Lodges to hold active, Elks-led projectsthat served veterans and/or military members inneed.These grants help Lodges connect directlyBoca Raton, Fla., Lodge No. 2166 used their grant to helpprovide dolphin therapy for recovering veterans. The Lodgealso provides regular meals for the veterans in the program.with veterans and military members in theircommunity, proving that local, grass-rootsprograms can identify and meet needs thatnational organizations cannot.Every year, the excitement about this programseems to grow. In 2019-20, we gave out moreFreedom Grants than ever before, and it stilldidn’t seem like enough. The 327 programs wefunded served tens of thousands of veterans andengaged thousands of Elks in direct service.

AdaptiveSports & OtherPartnersThrough targeted partnerships withEvery year, Elks HQ staff and local Elks Scholars come together to volunteerveterans service organizations and nonprofitand distribute supplies to veterans in need at the Chicago Winter and Summerorganizations, Elks are able to meet more ofStand Downs.veterans’ diverse needs.The Elks sponsor 6 adaptive sports and arts events to help veteransBugles Across America recruits, trains andrehabilitate, recover and thrive.organizes buglers across the country in supportof their belief that veterans deserve a liverendition of Taps by a real bugler at their funeral.Re-Creation USA provides live, therapeuticentertainment to veterans in VA MedicalCenters, State Veterans Homes and otherfacilities across the country.National VeteransGolden AgeGamesNational VeteransWheelchairGamesNational VeteransCreative ArtsCompetition & FestivalNational DisabledVeterans TEETournamentNational VeteransSummer SportsClinicNational DisabledVeterans WinterSports ClinicThe James H. Parke Memorial Fund awardscollege scholarships to outstanding studentswho have served 100 hours or more at a VAfacility.

Volunteersof the YearCongratulations to the 2020 National VeteransService Volunteer of the Year, Gary Drumhellerof Sun City, Ariz., Lodge No. 2559!alaskaillinoismissourioregonMelissa Rae GreenhalghBarry RobertsDennis CarmackMichael J. SmithCarolyn S. PlaceTerry CarmackDorothy E. Brittolouisiananebraskarhode islandDarren L. LaBartheHarry MontagWallace DeSouzaGail MilletLuann HamiltonRegina O. KingsboroughSheree L. Fahlbergmainenevadasouth carolinaca-hiVincent TraskThomas ZogorskiSteve CinaderJudy KennardSusan BuffamonteCatherine Lyman Hiltonmd-de-dcnew hampshiretexasThomas M. VolatileRaymond GreenlawBarry E. HohlfelderMary C. OnleyJennie GreenlawDeborah F. Hydrickmassachusettsnew yorkutahRaynor R. MetcalfeEdward J. Baniak, Jr.Robert D. PagnaniFrances M. MinichelloMary M. Charlestonmichigannorth carolinaRussel G. HammondReggie HortonarizonaWilliam H. Santee, Sr.arkansasMichael BurnettRobert SamaniegoDebbie L. OlsoncoloradoGeffrey K. McDanielMary G. RagsdalefloridaKen FabianiJudith A. WiseidahoNancy Mazuco BrownGeorge ParisminnesotaSharon HowardJames A. HuttneroklahomaSusan HuttnerJames A. PivecDebbie TennisonvirginiaLynette Kylewest virginiaRobert L. DelbruggeJamie E. Webster“Gary works tirelessly for theveterans. Gary’s devotion to theveteran community is secondto none and his performanceis above and beyond anyexpectation.”– Bill Hudson,PER of Sun City Lodge