On May 10, 2018, Kim Bourbeau and Stacey Trudo presented John Gorton of the Sheldon Methodist Church Food Shelf with 546 canned goods (168 cans of corn; 168 cans of peas; 168 cans of green beans; 24 cans of Albacore tuna; 16 cans of chicken breast). The funds are from securing the Anniversary Grant which was split between two charities (Laurie’s House-Voices Against Violence & Sheldon Methodist Church Food Shelf). The remainder of the $750.00 to the food shelf will be used to purchase fresh produce. 

The Vermont Elks Association Americanism committee recently awarded first place and runner-up awards to division I and II winners of their annual Americanism essay contest.  This year’s essay  theme was “Why our Veterans are America’s Heroes”.  Lodge Chair Maureen Lawson presented State Division I Essay Winner Isabella Boudreault with a $100 check.  Isabella’s essay will represent Vermont in the national Elks Americanism essay contest.  First, second and third place national winners will be announced at the Elks National convention in San Antonio, Texas in July.  State division I runner-up Zoe Hilferty and division II runner-up Mariah Hoar both received $50 checks.  All three are students of St. Monica-St. Michael Catholic School in Barre. 

Photo includes; Father O’Leary, St. Monica-St. Michael’s School Principal Brenda Buzzell, Zoe Hilferty, Isabella Boudreault, Mariah Hoar and Americanism Chair Maureen Lawson

News items submitted by Barb Watters.

Members of Barre Elks Lodge, in anticipation of Elks National Youth Week, presented over 370 dictionaries and thesauruses to third and fourth grade students at nine local schools.  The reference books were a gift for each student to keep and use throughout their school career.

Maureen Lawson, Barre Lodge 1535 Exalted Ruler for the 2017-2018 year presented Mark McCarthy of Lenny’s with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elk Citizen of the Year Award.   The award is presented annually by the Exalted Ruler to a member of the community exemplifying the values of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.   Mark and Lenny’s are no strangers to our community and have provided countless donations to organizations, including being generous donors for Vermont Elk Charities and the Stand Down for Vets held last fall.

News item submitted by Barb Watters.

Barre Elks Lodge recently presented representatives from Twin Valley Senior Center, Tires for Troops and Hedding United Methodist/Good Samaritan Haven with monetary donations to further their missions.  Funds were made possible from the Elks National Foundation Gratitude grant.

Executive director Rita Copeland and volunteers Jean Lawson and Andrea Blanchard, from Twin Valley Senior Center explained that funds would be used for an array of projects.  The center prepares all of their meals and provides approximately 1000 meals on-site and through their Meals on Wheels program.  They also provide exercise classes, health clinics, day trips and educational opportunities.  The center has a website twinvalleyseniors.org and can be found on facebook.

Tires for Troops founder, Tylor Bigras was on hand to receive their donation.  Tires for Troops is a non-profit organization that purchases and has  installed winter tires for Veterans in central Vermont.  Over 12 Veterans received new winter tires, had them mounted and balanced, a free car inspection and oil change.  Tires for Troops works with The Veterans’ Place in Northfield, Veterans Inc. in Bradford and the Barre Area Veterans council. 

Representatives from Hedding United Methodist Church and Good Samaritan Haven included Kim Kie, Pastor at Hedding UMC and Chair of the Board for Good Samaritan Haven, Reverend Renny Azotea, Outreach Pastor at Hedding UMC, Brooke Jenkins, Good Samaritan Haven Executive Director and Jon Kilian, Hedding UMC trustee and Good Samaritan Haven volunteer.  The Good Samaritan Haven overflow shelter utilizes space and heat from Hedding UMC and is run by the Haven.   Hedding UMC began providing space for the emergency overflow shelter in 2011. Since then, space has been made available from November to April for up to fourteen people to sleep each night. Over the last three years, the overflow has been heavily utilized. Between 8-14 individuals sleep on cots in the church from 8:30 pm to 7 am.

Photos Attached (taken by Kristin Calcagni):

Hedding 2018:  From L to R:  Renny Azotea, Brooke Jenkins, Kim Kie, Exalted Ruler Maureen Lawson and Jon Kilian

Twin valley 2018:  From L to R: Andrea Blanchard, Jean Lawson and Exalted Ruler Maureen Lawson

Tires for troops 2018:  From L to R:  Tylor Bigras and Exalted Ruler Maureen Lawson

News item submitted by Barre Elks Lodge