The Elks National Foundation (ENF) dispersed $14.6 million in Grants this year towards community based COVID-19 relief projects. Through the efforts of the Veteran’s and South Bay/Pine Hill School’s Committees the lodge received $7500 in ENF grant funding which provided COVID-19 relief assistance to the following.
In June the Veteran’s Committee made a $2000 Gratitude Grant donation to the North Coast Veteran Resource Center. A portion of the funds were applied to their Transitional Housing Program to assist in food cost and disinfectant Supplies. The remaining funds purchased meal cards from local merchants, which were given to residents placed in alternate housing due to their high risk of catching the disease.
The Veteran’s Committee conducted two Drive Through Food Drives with a $3500 Beacon Grant. One in November and second in December. Each event provided local needy veterans with Two “Food for People” food boxes along with a meal box from the Eureka Elks Lodge Veterans Committee. The December Drive Through, with the assistance of a $1500 donation from the United Bikers of Northern California, included an additional a $25 Gift Card to WinCo for each recipient. The combined drives provided 110 Elks meal boxes and 220 “Food for People” boxes.
The South Bay/Pine Hill School’s Committee used a Spotlight Grant of $2000 to make a “Financial Donation” to the South Bay Union School District for the purchase of the “Gift Cards” for meals to be distributed to disadvantaged families during this year Christmas/Holiday Break. The Gift Cards, redeemable at a local food market, along with food bags containing non-perishable items and fresh produce provided these families for food “expenditure” relief during the holiday season. Ninety families received 270 food bags which provide 343 meals. By Jack Harris, Veteran’s Committee.