ENF Freedom Grant
Erie Elks Lodge 67 utilized the Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant to host 57 Veterans along with 13 caregivers from the Erie VA Medical Center, the PA Soldiers and Sailors Home, as well as several local nursing homes. The Veterans enjoyed each other’s company, bingo games, and great food. Fourteen Lodge members welcomed our special guests and assisted in serving, bussing tables and simply just spending quality time with the Vets. The Lodge's Kitchen Manager prepared homemade Salisbury steak, homemade gravy with real mashed potatoes. Erie Elks Lodge's Auxiliary provided homemade pies and homemade cookies for dessert. Every Vet received a $50 Walmart card along with an Erie Elks Lodge 67 branded lanyard, and the bingo winners received an additional gift card. This event was a huge success as many of the Vets expressed their appreciation with tearful eyes.
Marine Corp 249th Anniversary
On Sunday, November 10th, the Erie Elks Lodge 67 celebrated the Marine Corp anniversary by holding a large holiday meat raffle. All proceeds from the meat raffle, $2,000 will be matched by the Lodge and donated to the Meals on Wheels Vets program in Erie. The $4,600 donation will remove two Vets from the waiting list and provide each of them one hot meal a day, 7 days a week for an entire year.
Lodge 67 Marines, thank you for your service and welcome home!
Pictured left to right: Esteemed Loyal Knight Greg Kindle, Member Ben Witt, Member John Weaver
Erie Otters Military Appreciation Night
Erie Elks Lodge 67 donated $500 to the Erie Otters Military appreciation night on November 9th. The donation provided 50 military personnel an evening at the Erie Otters Hockey game. Throughout the game the Lodge was recognized on the jumbo-tron. The Erie Otters are part of the Ontario Hockey League. The players are 16-20 years old, and most sign NHL contracts. The game was sold out and everyone had a great time, especially with a 4-0 shutout win by the Otters!
Drug Awareness
The Erie Elks Lodge 67 is very proud of Lt. Tom Lenox of the Erie Police Department for being selected as the 2024-2025 Pennsylvania Elks Enrique Camarena Award winner. In 2016, after a 40-year hiatus, Lt. Lenox was reinstated to the Erie Police Athletic League (P.A.L.).
Today, Lt. Lenox, along with over 100 other Police Officers across many departments and agencies, have over 1,700 local youth involved in activities, camps, sports, and mentorship programs. Lt. Lenox
has formed a lifelong bond with the kids, and has recruited 6 of his wrestlers from his State Championship teams to join the Erie Police Department.
Elks Care Elks Share
Erie Lodge #67 PER Scholarships were awarded to two family members of Lodge 67 this year. The applications included scholastic achievements and leadership accomplishments along with a short essay researching and advocating for a local nonprofit organization. Each student received a $1,000.00 scholarship along with the opportunity to present a $500 donation from Lodge 67 to their charitable organization.
The Lodge membership are very proud of these two students and wish them well as they advance their education.
(Photo 1) Pictured left to right, Jim Law, PDDGER, Chris Bruschi, Father, Alyssa Bruschi, and Jennie Hagerty, Executive Director for the Mercy Center for Women.
(Photo 2) Pictured left to right, Jim Law PDDGER, Kelly Hart and Sarah Trojak, Foundation Administrator
Alyssa Bruschi, daughter of members Chris and Michelle Bruschi. Alyssa's essay featured The Mercy Center for Women, an Erie based nonprofit that provides transitional housing and support services to homeless women with or without children. Alyssa will be attending the University of Pittsburgh's nursing program in the fall.
Good luck to Alyssa!!!
Kelly Hart, daughter of members Brian Hart and Andrea Hart. Kelly's essay advocated for the Iroquois School District Foundation, an Erie based nonprofit that enhances the educational opportunities for all District students K-12 by developing imaginative and creative partnerships with the educators. Kelly was the Valedictorian at Iroquois and will be attending The Pennsylvania State University, University Park for nursing in the fall.
Good luck to Kelly!!!
Elks Lodge 67 Vets
On July 24th the Erie Lodge 67 Vets Committee hosted 65 Vets from the Erie VA Medical Center, PA Soldiers and Sailors Home and numerous long term care facilities to an afternoon of AA Baseball in Erie, PA.
The first place Seawolves responded by winning the game. Fun was had by all, several guests of the Lodge commented it has been a long time since they attended a baseball game!
The Erie Seawolves, AA affiliate of the MLB Detroit Tigers, invited a 98 year old WWII Vet from the Soldiers and Sailors Home to throw out the ceremonial first pitch! A total of 65 Vets and caregivers were treated by Lodge 67 to the game, food, soft drinks and Seawolves branded gear!
Elks Care Elks Share
Summertime activities officially kicked off Sunday June 9th at Erie Lodge 67 as the Lodge launched their Sunday Backyard BBQ's. Volunteers cooked burgers, hot dogs and prepared chicken in smokers while members brought their favorite dishes to share. The Lodge held a "meat" raffle while members ate and socialized.
The food and raffle proceeds totaled $1,100 and will go towards our PA State major project, PA Home Nursing Services program. Close to 80 members in all turned out for an afternoon of fun, great food and comradery .
Memorial Day
Erie Lodge 67 placed flags at two local Erie cemeteries on Friday, May 18 and Saturday 19th, in preparation of Memorial Day weekend. Over 40 Lodge members volunteered and placed 1,200 flags on the graves of veterans. Lodge 67 partnered with the Erie Marine Corp League with this patriotic event. Several newer members participated and all members were filled with a sense of honor and pride.
Veterans Services
Erie Lodge 67 utilized the ENF CIP Spotlight Grant, $2,000 as a donation to the Erie Meals on Wheels Vets Program. The Lodge also matched this donation with an additional $2,000 to the same program. The $2,000 donation to the Meals on Wheels Vets program will provide a homebound Vet one hot meal a day, 7 days a week for a year. These two donations will remove two Vets from the waiting list!
pictured left to right: Jennifer Hoffman, Executive Director Erie Meals on Wheels, Becky Feronti, Lodge 67 Exalted Ruler, Fran Milkowski, Erie Lodge PER, Trustee, Jim Law PDDGER, Trustee.
Erie Lodge 67 Donation Meals on Wheels
Erie Lodge 67 conducted a number of fundraising events along with generous donations from Lodge 67 members, and raised $6,500 for the Erie Meals on Wheels Vets program. This program provides 1 hot meal a day 7 days a week for 365 days to elderly shut in Veterans. This donation will remove almost 4 veterans off the waiting list.
Pictured left to right, Jim Law, PDDGER, Jennifer Hoffman, Executive Director Erie Meals on Wheels, Becky Feronti, Esteemed Leading Knight, Fran Milkowski, PER, ER
Hoop Shoot State Champion
The PA State Elks Association, State Hoop Shoot took place today in Bellefonte, PA on Saturday March 2nd. Maria Koval, representing Erie Lodge 67, finished first place and is the State Champion in the girls 11-12 age bracket. Maria will move on to the regional shoot in a couple of weeks in Wilkes Barre. Good Luck Maria!!!! Erie Lodge 67 is very proud of you!
Hoop Shoot 2024
Erie Lodge 67 held our ENF Hoop Shoot on Saturday, January 27th. This year the Lodge used many resources for marketing and distribution of flyers which aided in the great turnout for both youth and volunteers. The Lodge had a total of 36 youth registries across all age brackets for both girls and boys. The Lodge turned out in force with over 20 volunteers along with 8 high school girls from Cathedral Prep athletics. Erie Lodge is proud of all the youth that competed and look forward to the 6 that are advancing to the NW PA District Shoot.
Elks Care Elks Share
Erie Lodge 67 Auxiliary, sponsored their annual Holiday Angel Tree event. Lodge members selected Angels from the tree and purchased gifts for the youth served by Harborcreek Youth Services, a trauma-informed behavioral healthcare agency that provides a wide range of residential and in-home services to children.
Without the Lodge support, spearheaded by the Auxiliary, the youth served most likely would not have any gifts on Christmas. This year Lodge members and Auxiliary were extremely generous. The Lodge Auxiliary wrapped 328 gifts for Harborcreek Youth Services.
Elks Care Elks Share
On Saturday December 9th, Erie Lodge 67 once again had 16 members volunteering for the full day to the Salvation Army kettle drive. Members took 1 hour shifts ringing the bells, collecting money, passing out candy canes to the youth and wishing all a Merry Christmas. This event, affectionately known in the Lodge as "Bucky' Bell Ringers" named after William Bucky Buchanon, PER who organized this event and partnered with the Salvation Army for many years. Erie Lodge also donated $500 into the kettle.
Pictured left to right: Lodge Members, Pat Masterian and Larry Stadler
Elks Care Elks Share
On Saturday, December 9th Erie Lodge 67 hosted a breakfast for Lodge Members and their younger families. Over 22 kids and 24 adults had a great time playing reindeer games, singing, craft time and a great breakfast. The highlight was Lodge 67's special guest all the way from the North Pole! Yes, Santa was able to visit the Lodge providing all the kids the opportunity to sit on his lap and each child received a special gift from Jolly Old St. Nick! It was a great morning!
Erie Lodge 67 Memorial Service
Erie Lodge 67 performed the annual Memorial Service for all those members we lost this last year.
We acknowledged 29 Lodge 67 Members and 5 Lodge 67 Auxiliary Members on Sunday December 3rd with a beautiful service.