Over 3,500 local students came out for the City of Mission Viejo’s 30th annual “Walk Against Drugs” Saturday morning to show their support for Red Ribbon Week. The Mission Viejo, Saddleback Valley Elks were up early to set up their booth to help educate the youth of the community and the public of the dangers of drug abuse and the devastation caused by their abuse. The Elks gave a drug awareness quiz and the students that took the quiz were entered into a drawing. Abigale and Andrew Lei, Logan Urquhart, and Joanna Gomez all won $25 gift cards for their participation.
Drawing the winners were Crime Prevention Specialist Paula Monical, Elks Chaplain Cindy Wooten, and Lodge Lecturing Knight Lane Keran
Participating children taking the Elks drug awareness quiz
OC Sheriff’s Dept Mounted Deputies
Elks working to support the Drug Awareness event, Jamie Camunas, Stuart Urquhart, Mike Long, Cindy Wooten, and Charles T. Hart
Elks Leading Knight Jamie Camunas
Many local vendors supported the Drug awareness event. Also present were mounted deputies from the OC Sheriffs Department, the US Marines, and the US Army. Elks Lodge Chaplin Cindy Wooten organized the event with the help of co-chair Past Exalted Ruler Charles T. Hart. The two met in the early morning hours with Past Exalted Ruler Mike Long, Leading Knight Jamie Camunas, and Lodge member Stuart Urquhart to help set up the booth and to be ready to pass out ribbons, literature, and flags to the children and parents as they completed their walks. Elks Lodge Lecturing Knight Lane Karen, wife Kelly, and daughter Amie helped in educating the public about this important information regarding drug awareness. The Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge #2444 is celebrating 48 years of service to Saddleback Valley Communities. It is one of 8 lodges in the Orange Coast District of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) whose headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois. The BPOE is a charitable organization with a 150-year history of giving. “Elks Care Elks Share” For information regarding Elks programs or membership, call 949 830-3557.
Andy Costello
Grand Lodge Area 7
Membership & Marketing Committeeman
