As a lodge we are very fortunate that Peaches Hart (PER) helps us deploy an ENF grant and deliver to the children a very thoughtful learning experience.  Each year she gets the 4^th grade classes in Molly Stark elementary together and has them learn patriotic songs, then brings them to the Veterans Home and Bennington Project independence to present the show.  These kids practice for months to get the songs down devoting many hours of hard work.  We also supply each child a sweatshirt containing the Elks logo in either Red, White or Blue as a badge of honor.

This year we continued a tradition started last year by hosting these students at our lodge for a lunch between performances.  Our volunteers prepared hamburgers, hot dogs and French fries for these hungry students.  With the assistance of Bill Bryan (PER, PDD) we were able to deliver our national drug awareness materials with a short speech.  We were then treated a special musical performance by the students.  We would like to thank the members of our lodge for continuing to support such a worthwhile program for the local children.

News item submitted by Kelly Kervan

Members of Burlington, Montpelier, Barre and Bellows Falls Elks Lodges visited Veterans at the VA hospital to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the BPOE.  Toiletries, blankets, t-shirts, gloves, games, cards, and supplies were donated to Veterans in attendance and on other floors.  The group enjoyed pizza and cake together in celebration.

Recently , Springfield Elks Lodge 1560’s Veteran’s chair person, PER Vicki Siliski applied for an Elks National Foundation Anniversary Grant worth $1500, with the  recipient being “The Veteran’s Place Inc.” located in Northfield, Vt.  The Anniversary Grant given by the Elks National Foundation is marking this year being the 150^th Anniversary of the Elks becoming a fraternity in 1868.  

This home in Northfield was built in 1904 and housed the Northfield Hospital for many years.  Then it became a nursing home.   Then being unoccupied, in 2009 The Veterans’ Place, Inc. took up residents in the home for homeless Veteran’s.    This program was started by the VA Hospital in White River Jct., Vt.  There are many homes like this throughout the country including two in New Hampshire that are sponsored by the VA with Grant money from the government. 

            The purpose of The Veteran’s Place, Inc. is to help Vermont’s Homeless Veterans by providing desperately needed resources in an all-one- locale so these Veterans may regain their PRIDE, reach their full potential , and once again become  contributing members of society. The Veterans Place is a transitional housing facility combined with assistive services for Homeless Veterans in Central Vermont and they have more than twenty-five other dedicated partners helping them.  Their goal is to help Homeless Veterans transition from the homeless population to thriving citizens.  Participants at the Veterans’ Place must be substance free, help with household chores, work diligently on self-improvement   (including finding employment), maintain a healthy lifestyle and volunteer within the community.  In return, participants may stay up to two years in the structured program.   The residents suffer from injuries acquired in the service of our country, including the invisible, terrible PTSD.  They offer assistance with tasks, such as completing applications for disabilities, employment and housing.  Transportation is provided to and from appointments to places such as the Veterans Hospital.  They are also provided with meals and supported emotionally as they make a difficult return to ability to function in society.

            Clayton Wood a former law enforcement career man from Lebanon, NH, is the Clinic Oversight/Case Manager.  The criteria for Vet’s to be placed in the Northfield home are first scrutinized by the VA with background checks, who then send them to Northfield to be interviewed by Mr. Wood and his committee to see if they are a good fit to be housed there.   During the interview, they are told no alcohol or drugs are permitted in the home nor may they go out and consume same when they are not at the home.  The hope is that they will take advantage of what is being offered to them, which will in the end enable them to lead a normal life out in society.   The home has (26) rooms for sleeping quarters,  it also has a full kitchen with a dining hall, recreation room, game room, large living room with many DVD movies and games, weight room and a fully equipped clothes and shoes room to outfit all occupant’s with assorted clothes for free.  At the end of the two years there, the occupants are sent out into the world with many items to start anew in their new  housing.  Example, micro waves, kitchen supplies etc.  Presently, there are 23 Veterans housed at the home.

            Within the picture attached are the Director and two Veteran’s living at the home.  Besides Mr. Wood there is also a Mr. Mart McLeod an Air Force Vet from Connecticut and Bob Shaw of Rutland, Vt., a Navy Vet. 

Shown are Springfield Elks members during the presentation of an Elks Anniversary Grant of $1500 to the Veteran’s Place in Northfield, Vt recently.  Shown front l to r are Eugene Siliski, PER Vicki Siliski, Vet’s Place Diretor Clayton Wood and Gloria Gunn.  In back are residents of Vet’s Place, Bob Shaw of Rutland a Navy Veteran and Mart Mcleod an Air Force Vet from Connecticut.

News item submitted by Mike Gunn.

Barre Elks members visited Veterans Inc. in Bradford, Vermont with donations of sneakers, work boots, jeans, socks and gloves.   The donation was made possible with a Beacon grant from Elks National Foundation.  This is the first time Barre Elks Lodge has worked with Veterans Inc.  Veterans Inc provides housing for homeless Veterans, including emergency shelter, transitional and supportive housing.  Each of the sixteen residents received a pair of sneakers or work boots, jeans, gloves and socks. 

Photos Attached (taken by Kristin Calcagni)

Veterans John and Chris (L to R) open their new footwear.

Veteran Kyle opening his new sneakers.

Veteran Kyle, ER Maureen Lawson,  Veteran John,  Veterans Inc Resident Advisor John Prescott and Veterans Committee chair Chip Paine. 

Other photos of Veterans trying on their new footwear.

Barre Elks Lodge continued its tradition of supporting The Veterans’ Place in Northfield, Vermont.  For the 5^th consecutive year, Barre Lodge has utilized a $2000 Elks National Foundation Beacon grant to purchase items for Veterans transitioning from the Veterans’ Place into their own housing.  Members purchased, organized and packaged “Welcome Home” kits that contained cleaning supplies, shower curtains, towels, toasters, kitchen utensils, coffee makers, mixing bowls, alarm clocks and other items needed to set up a house. 

According to The Veterans’ Place Executive Director, Phil Rowell, “the guys leave here needing nothing, everything is supplied for them.  They know all about the (storage) room and use it.”  The Veterans’ Place is a transitional housing facility combined with assistive services for Homeless Veterans in Central Vermont. Their goal is to help Homeless Veterans transition from the homeless population. The purpose of the Veterans’ Place is to help Vermont’s Homeless Veterans by providing desperately needed resources in an all-in-one locale so these Veterans may regain their PRIDE, reach their full potential, and once again become contributing members of society.

Elk members brought loads of items, filling a storage room, then chatted with the Veterans that were on hand to help unload the items. 

Photo: Pictured are Exalted Ruler Maureen Lawson with Veterans Marc, Tom and Bob.