The parking lot at the Elks Lodge may be empty, and the Lodge closed due to the Pandemic, but the Lodge Camping club, The Run A Ways, is still active and doing good things for the needy. Five members of the club visited the South County Outreach foodbank in Irvine. Run A Ways club Wagon Master Bob Hauxhurst, Assistant Wagon Master Jim Wessling, Club Treasurer Ken Eilers, and club members Frank Gunning, and Andy Costello presented 36 $25 gift certificates to South county Outreach Associate Director of Operations Cassie Owens. The gift certificates, which are meant for family teen-agers who are often forgotten in toy give-outs, will be distributed by Outreach in family Christmas stockings.
The annual Christmas gift card donation is made possible by the Run A Ways club in lieu of a holiday gift exchange between members. Club Wagon Master Bob Hauxhurst said of the donation, “I am so grateful to club members for their continued support of this worthy cause. Although the club has had to adapt to the current standards brought about by the Pandemic, and club activities have been slowed, we still managed to raise $900 for our friends at Outreach. We also continue to raise funds for the Elks Association Handicapped Children’s Major Project program. I’m proud of all of our club members.”
Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge #2444 celebrates 50 years of service to Saddleback Valley Communities. It is one of 8 Elks 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 152-year history of giving. “Elks Care Elks Share”. For information regarding Elks programs or membership, call 949 830-3557.
Lodge Empty parking lot
L to R: Run A Ways Assistant Wagon Master Jim Wessling, Club Treasurer Ken Eilers, Outreach Associate Director of Operations Cassie Owens, Run A Ways Club member Frank Gunning, and Club Wagon Master Bob Hauxhurst.
Article By: Andy Costello, PR Chairman
Submitted By: Sandy Gruzdis
PR Committee Member
