Elks Laura Lumley (2nd from left) and Dennis Lumley Serve Dinner to Military Veteran Richard Rodriguez
Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge (“Elks Lodge”) and the other nine (9) Elks Lodges of the Orange Coast District supported the 4th Annual Orange County Stand Down held on September 26 – 28, 2014.
On Saturday, September 27, 2014, the Elks volunteers from the ten lodges purchased, prepared and served both breakfast and a spaghetti dinner to over 300 homeless and at risk military vets, some with family members, and event volunteers.
The Elks Lodge also used a grant of $2,000 from the Elks National Foundation to purchase and fill back packs with a blanket, first aid kit, toothbrush and toothpaste, other grooming items and Elks contact information.
What is a Stand Down? “In times of war, exhausted combat units requiring time to rest and recover were removed from the battlefields to a place of relative security and safety. Today, Stand Down refers to a community-based intervention program designed to help the nation’s estimated 200,000 homeless military veterans “combat” life on the streets.” (Definition courtesy of Veterans Village of San Diego). In 1988, Veterans Village of San Diego held the first Stand Down.
Elks Lodge Vets Chairperson Dennis Lumley and President Derek Randles Prepare Back Packs
From thirteen (13) locations throughout Orange County, free round trip transportation was provided to the Army Reserve Center in Tustin, CA. A military base camp was set up by Marines from Camp Pendleton and other volunteers for homeless and at-risk veterans as well as their families to receive basic social services from a variety of community and government agencies.
The services given to the military vets included (but were not limited to): Medical, Dental and Vision Exams and Care; Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counseling; Veterans & Social Security Benefits Identification and Assistance; Employment and Housing Assistance; Legal Assistance; Children’s Services / Special Tent Just For Kids; Massages / Chiropractor / Acupuncture / Podiatrist; hot showers and grooming; clothing; and bedding items.
Elks Lodge Esquire Julie Thomas and President Derek Randles Serve Active Military Volunteers
Of the event, Elks Lodge President Derek Randles said, “The Elks have a long history of supporting our nation’s military veterans. As long as there are military veterans, the Elks will never forget them.”
The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge No. 2444, celebrating forty-four (44) 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 146 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
Hal Mattson, Lodge Publicity
Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444
