Exalted Ruler Bob Kielsa (left) and Veterans Committee Chairperson Belinda Waller.
Pat Cox
Catalina Mountain Elks Lodge No. 2815 continues to support veterans at the Veterans Medical Facility and the Veterans Home located in Tucson.
Belinda Waller, Lodge Veterans Committee Chairperson, took on the challenge of reaching a goal of $50,000 credit for collecting clothing, books and toiletries for the veterans at the Veterans Medical Facility. She exceeded the goal by collecting and delivering a total of over $63,428 worth of these items.
In addition to collecting clothing on a monthly basis, the lodge also provides luncheons at the lodge and outings for the veterans. This year the lodge sponsored a trip to the Biosphere for a group of visually impaired veterans. The next outing will be at the Miniature Museum, which has a special program for the visually impaired.
Throughout the year, the lodge has provided food, cooked meals and monetary donations to the Veterans Home located on the campus of the VA facility. A new barbeque grill was delivered to the
veterans in March.
“So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them,” is a motto that Catalina Mountain Elks Lodge members implement.