(L to r): Sandie McClure, Jean Edwards, Pam Mackey, Diane Landis, Gloria LeCouvre, Ted LaPorte, Andy Dumont and Leo Hazell. Missing from photo, Sharon Scott.
(L to r): Andy Dumont, Veteran Dan Noonan, Gloria LeCouvre, Diane Landis.
(L to r): Gloria LeCouvre, Vet Patrick Northrop, Andy Dumont.
Our Lady of Fatima Rosary-Quire.
Members of Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444 (“Elks Lodge”) and other volunteers brought gifts and Christmas carols to the military veterans in the Long Beach Veterans Hospital. The Elks delegation was led by Andy Dumont, Lodge Veterans chairman, and Leo Hazell, event chairman.
The Elks members and volunteers brought gifts with a retail value of over $2,000 which included dozens of home made Afghans, shoes, clothing (shirts, socks, etc.), bingo prizes, gift bags, stuffed animals, personal care items and eight dozen cookies (four dozen with no sugar).
The Veterans were also serenaded by a group of non-elk volunteers, Our Lady of Fatima Rosary-Quire of Rancho Santa Margarita and Mission Viejo. Members of this group included Elaine Witten, Carrie Yates, Lucy and Perry Cabera, Cora Haroso, Lourdes and Ed Hortinela, Rey Alonso, Lily Perrera, Bill and Elvie Villanueva and Sally Cordova.
Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler Pat Martino said, “Many years ago, the Elks made a promise to this nation’s Veterans: So long as there are Veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them. This Elks Lodge is proud to keep that promise.”
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.”
