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.

The Barre Area Veterans Council, comprised of the Barre Lodge of Elks #1535, American Legion Post #10, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #790 and Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War Camp 302, hosted a very successful homeless Veterans Stand Down.  The free, all-day event was open to all Veterans, homeless or at-risk and their families.  Over forty Veterans from Vermont and New Hampshire attended the stand down.  Veterans from the Northeast Kingdom, Rutland, New Hampshire and southern Vermont received showers, haircuts, short term resources such as a hot meal, winter clothing, toiletries and cold weather items.  Long term resources from the Veterans Administration, housing, legal and employment agencies, and counselors were also provided.  

Barre Lodge members donated well over 500 volunteer hours, clothing, toiletries, camping and food supplies.  Undergarments, blankets, toiletries, heat-a-seats, laundry detergent, shoelaces, hand and foot warmers, backpacks, beef jerky and protein bars were purchased with a $2000 Freedom Grant from Elks National Veterans Service Commission.  Six of twelve Vermont Elks Lodges donated items or funds to stand down.

Thirty six Veteran service organizations and over one hundred thirty volunteers participated in the event.  Over $200 in gas cards and $160 in grocery cards were given to attendees.

Photos by Kristin Calcagni)

From L to R:  Army Veteran Rodney, Esquire Cindy Wedding, Army Veteran Dana and Exalted Ruler Maureen Lawson

From L to R:  Exalted Ruler Maureen Lawson assists Veteran Chris Connolly with items received from stand down.

On Tuesday April 11th the Windsor elks presented the White River Junction veterans (in connection with Americanism and veterans support) with 3 cases of girl scout cookies to be distributed to the veterans when they held their farmers market on Wednesday the 12th.

L-R:  Norman Marshall PER, Voluntary Service Program Manager Karen Campbell and Harley Bettis State Of Vermont Trustee.

News item submitted by  Norman Marshall

Barre Elks Lodge continued its tradition of supporting The Veterans Place in Northfield, Vermont. Barre Lodge utilized part of a $2000 Elks National Veterans Service Commission Freedom grant to purchase housing items for Veterans transitioning from the Veterans Place into their own housing. Members purchased, organized and packaged “Welcome Home” kits that contained sheets, towels, blankets, pillows, coffee makers, kitchen utensils, Tupperware and other items needed to set up a home.

According to The Veterans Place director Karen Boyce, “These items will help several Veterans that are transitioning into their own housing, some within the next month.”   Currently, the Veterans Place is serving 26 Veterans and has a waiting list. Veterans transition in and out of the Veterans Place throughout the year.

(Photos from Kristin Calcagni)

From L to R:  Veteran residents Bob Davis and Joseph Cobb, Elks members Paul Gagne and Karen Bingham.

From L to R:  Veteran residents Dean Bouvier, Fred E., Walter Pinette, Exalted Ruler Elect Maureen Lawson, Elks members Paul Gagne, Karen Bingham, David Bingham, Veteran residents Bob Davis and Stephen Parker.