(L to r): Exalted Ruler and Wagon Master Pat Martino greeted by Ken Carpenter.
Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444 (“Elks Lodge”) camper’s group members (the “Run-A-Ways”) gave Saddleback Community Outreach (“SCO”) $480 toward the purchase of Christmas gifts for needy children. Each year members of the Run-A-Ways select a charity for their personal donations instead of exchanging gifts amongst themselves. A number of Run-A-Ways members are also volunteers of SCO.
Run-A-Ways members Jerry Gross and Pat Martino, Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge also serving as Wagon Master for The Run-A-Ways, delivered thirty-two (32) $15.00 gift certificates to SCO. In accepting the gift certificates, Ken Carpenter of SCO said, “We have very little in the way of gifts for older children. We will put one in each holiday food basket delivered to families in need.”
SCO’s web site indicates that it was founded in 1988 as a non-profit, non-sectarian organization providing comprehensive relief services to families and individuals. With an active Board of Directors and more than 150 volunteers, SCO has served more than 56,500 South Orange County families in the past ten years. SCO vision statement, “South Orange County becomes a community where no one experiences hunger or homelessness.” SCO programs includes: food distribution which provides over 600,000 pounds of food to local families each year, a transitional housing program dedicated to assisting homeless families, an Adopt-A-Family offers food and gifts to more than 800 families each holiday season, rental or utility assistance for a family to prevent eviction and a Computer Learning Lab that provides needed skills for employment.
Pat Martino, Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler and Run-A-Ways Wagon Master said, “The members of the Run-A-Ways are pleased that the Saddleback Community Outreach charity will provide the gift certificates to children that might otherwise not receive a gift for Christmas.”
The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge No. 2444, celebrating forty (40) years of service to the Saddleback Valley communities, is one of ten 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 142 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
