On a beautiful sunny Saturday morning, twenty-six Members of the Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge (“Elks Lodge”) traveled to the Orange County Rescue Mission (“Mission”) in Tustin to put on a fun-filled party-day for the children and parents who now reside at that shelter for the homeless. Elk volunteers, all wearing red shirts and ready to roll, loaded three trucks with carnival games and prizes including toys, clothing, and food; all donated by the local Elks Lodge members and the Elks Charity Committee. At the Mission, the twenty-six Elk men and women with the help of seven Elks youth volunteers went to work. The Mission’s beautiful courtyard was soon transformed into a festive carnival-midway complete with colorful booths, awnings, games, and prizes for everyone.
The Mission Viejo-Saddleback Valley Elks doing what they like best – having fun and helping others
Parents and kids alike munched on cotton-candy, snacks, and snow cones while they tried their luck at the games and picked through tables of new clothing, back-packs, gifts, and prizes. Everyone was a winner. The Elks Lodge also furnished a bounce-slide house and a petting zoo to the delight of the youngsters. The face-painters, tattoos, and crafts booths were popular with the adults as well as the children. In spite of the sometimes heartbreaking stories and circumstances that brought these appreciative residents to the Mission’s shelter, this day was all about fun and celebration.
Elks Loyal Knight Stuart Urquhart shows wife Marcie how to make the perfect cotton-candy
All were thankful for the opportunity given them by the Mission to start a new life, a new beginning. Elks Lodge Treasurer Bill Bongartz, who is a long-time supporter and contributor to the event said, “Just when you think you are doing something good for someone else, you realize you are getting back so much more than you are giving.” At lunchtime, Elks Lodge kitchen manager Pam Mackey and Elks Lodge volunteers staffed the Mission’s kitchen and buffet line, serving hamburgers, hot dogs, chili, potato chips, and iced tea.
Elks Barbara King and Randy Houston helping children choose from one of the gift tables
Elks Past Exalted Ruler Derek Randles who previously chaired the event in past years said, “This is the seventh year we have returned here just to bring a little happiness into the lives of these wonderful people.” The project was organized this year by Elks Lodge Assistant Esquire Tenisha Campanile who said of the event, “You could see the enjoyment in the faces of the children and the parents, and we truly feel honored we were able to brighten their day. Elks really do care, Elks really do share.” Major funding for the event was provided by Elks Charitable Committee (Bingo) and a Promise Grant received by the Elks Lodge from the Elks National Foundation (ENF). The ENF is the Elks national charity fund which in addition to providing grants for local community projects, also sponsors programs such as the Elks Scholarships, Veterans benefits, Handicapped Children projects and funding for many more local and national charities. Since its inception in 1928, the ENF has contributed more than four hundred fifty million dollars to Elks charitable projects.
The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge No. 2444, celebrating forty-nine (49) years of service to the Orange County communities, is one of eight (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 151-year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.” For information on Elks, charities call (949) 830-3557. For more information on the Orange County Rescue Mission call: (714) 247-4300 or Toll-Free: (800) 663-3074 or go to http://www.rescuemission.org/
Photos by Elks Leading Knight Greg Morgan
Story By: Andy Costello
Grand Lodge Area 7 Membership
& Marketing Committee
