Elks Lodges are known for improving their communities with volunteer work and charitable giving. This month, lodges across the world are celebrating 154 years of community service.
The Sidney Elks Lodge No. 1782, located on 123 3rd St SW, Sidney, is no stranger to community service.
This year, the Elks members of Lodge No. 1782 donated 2,100 hours of volunteer time, which works out to be almost $60,000 of charitable money.
Since the local lodge’s inception in 1949, it has raised over $1.2 million in charitable giving.
Elks volunteers will visit thousands of hospitalized veterans that have protected our freedoms. The Elks support both active military forces and retired veterans. They furnish food, comfort care items, therapeutic items, provide gifts, host holiday celebrations, and recreational activities at bases and hospitals and stand ready to fulfill any need when called upon.
Elks consistently donate to the community each year, holding free community dinners, and doing service projects throughout the year.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks has made more than $12 billion in donations since it started in 1868.
According to elks.org, last year, the Elks donated approximately $375 million in cash, gifts, and time to make communities a better place.
The Elks also award college scholarships across the nation totaling more than $4.5 million. The Elks Community Investment Program will award nearly $47 million towards enriching communities.
The Sidney Elks have a large amount of support programs for veterans, are one of the largest donors for educational funds, and perform several good works in local towns and across the state.
“Becoming a member is an opportunity to not only support the good works we do, but be a part of it,” said Ryan Laqua, Montana Elks Association president.
The Sidney lodge has over 300 members from around the area including Lambert, Fairview, Richey, Circle, and other surrounding towns.
There are 1,800 Elks Lodges across the United States with a total membership of over 800,000. Elks members must be American citizens who are at least 21 years of age and must believe in God.
If interested in becoming a member and supporting the good works of the Elks, contact the Sidney lodge at 406-433-2406 and visit Join.Elks.org.
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