On July 23, the Mission Viejo Elks Veterans Committee presented a check in the amount of $500.00 to Heidi Suszkl, office manager, at Esperanza High School in Mission Viejo. The donation was for the school’s program for young adults with learning disabilities. As part of the Esperanza program, the students make blankets for hospitalized veterans at both the Long Beach Veterans Hospital and at Camp Pendleton. The local Elks Lodge partnered with the school last year, providing funds for material, and when completed, delivering the finished blankets to Veterans in Elk’s visits to the two hospital locations. The effort has been a major success benefitting both the students and our Veterans. Elks Veterans Committee member Sheryn Howlett said of the program, “The look of accomplishment on the faces of the students and the smiles of appreciation on the faces of the veterans, make this a most worthwhile program.”
Members of the Elks Veteran’s Committee also joined with Elks from the Santa Ana Lodge in a visit to the Veteran’s Hospital in Long Beach for an evening of bingo, good cheer, and prizes. The visitors brought much-needed items of donated clothing, shoes, underwear, pants, and blankets. Lloyd Bryan, an Elk regular and bingo caller at the visits said, “I couldn’t believe how fast that table of goods disappeared. They really loved getting those things. We’ll just have to bring more with us next time.”
The Mission Viejo, Saddleback Valley Elks #2444 in one of the eight Lodges making up the Orange Coast District, and proud to be an integral arm of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America, the Nation’s Premiere Social, Charitable and Patriotic organization. For information call the local Lodge at 949 830-3557.
Heidi Suszkl, office manager at Esperanza High School
Andy Costello
Grand Lodge Area 7 Membership
& Marketing Committee
