Recently, Springfield Elks Lodge 1560 Exalted Ruler Vicki Siliski met with Alfred Montoya, Medical Center Director at the VA Hospital in White River Junction and presented an Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant of $500 from her Lodge in Springfield, Vt.
The Gratitude Grant was accomplished by the Springfield Lodge completing their commitment of annual per capita funds to the Elks National Foundation. By completing this sum to ENF, Springfield Elks Lodge was reimbursed a certain amount under the Gratitude Grant program. Each Lodge in the country can apply for these Grants after they meet their per capita to ENF.
Also accompanying ER Siliski to the VA Hospital for the presentation were members Mike Gunn and Gloria Gunn. Welcoming the three Elks were, Andy Lacasse Public Affairs Director, Becky Rhoads Executive Assistant to Director Montoya, Brook Robinson Recreation Therapist, Katherine Tang Intern of Public of Affairs. Also, three veterans attending therapy activities at the hospital that day were Keith Morgan an Air Force and Army veteran from Brownsville, Vt., Linda Deforge of North Hartland, Vt., and Ed Lamer of Northfield, Vt., veterans of the Navy.
The $500 Grant to the hospital was designated for “Arts & Crafts and Toiletries” for the veterans who attend the hospital daily or are patients there. Ms’ Robinson runs this department where the Veterans participate in activities like wood burning, leather craft, painting on slate, snow shoeing, cooking, golfing and an area where Veterans randomly discuss how their lives are going, etc.
With the sum of money that the Springfield Elks was reimbursed from ENF, they will be making other awards to the Veterans Home in Bennington, Vt., the Stingrays Swim Team in Springfield, Vt., and the Post Prom party committee in Springfield, Vt. Going forward, Springfield Elks Lodge is always looking for other community causes to award money to. In 2017, the Lodge will again be applying for another Gratitude Grant to be given out after they have met their quota to ENF. The Lodge is hoping causes will get in touch with them to see if their community program would qualify. Just write a letter to the Springfield Elks Lodge at 49 Park St., Springfield, Vt. 05156
Shown are the participants for the Springfield Elks Lodge’s Gratitude Grant presentation at the VA Hospital in White River Jct., Vt. recently.
Frt l to r; Linda Deforge, Director Alfred Montoya, Exalted Ruler Vicki Siliski and Ed Lamer. Back; Keith Morgan, Brook Robinson and Gloria Gunn.
Story submitted by Mike Gunn