Bill Neessen Elk of the Year, POY, Public Relations Chairman
Posts: 2619
Posted on: Dec. 07 2014,3:17 pm
As E R Phil Moore says "My Favorite Day in Elkdom" is the Eli Home Thanksgiving dinner event.
On a November Saturday afternoon, the Orange Elks Lodge#1475 hosted The Eli Home Shelter for Abused Children to a Thanksgiving Dinner with all the fixings. Our Elks kitchen crew prepared 17 turkeys, mashed potatoes, candied yams with marshmallows, corn, stuffing, gravy, dinner rolls and Jell-O. Donations of pumpkin and apple pies, dozens of cookies and cupcakes baked by one of our Orange Elk volunteers to fill the dessert tables.
Bill Neessen Elk of the Year, POY, Public Relations Chairman
Posts: 2619
Posted on: Dec. 07 2014,3:19 pm
The dining room was transformed by decorations and music was played by one of our Orange Elk member set the mood for our guests visit to be a fulfilling, safe and comforting experience.
Bill Neessen Elk of the Year, POY, Public Relations Chairman
Posts: 2619
Posted on: Dec. 07 2014,3:20 pm
With the ENF Promise Grant of $2000, the Eli Home committee members worked six months to secure funds that would help support the entire event. The members donations and community vendor sponsorship, helped raise the $8000.00 for the event. These funds help to provide every child with a gift bag of goodies, and their own $30.00 gift card at the end of the day. The Eli Home Shelter for Abused Children staff helped coordinate this event with the Orange Elks. There were 78 children and 35 guardians were on hand. Orange Elk Eli Home committee member, Mike Cash, arranged with our local vendors for a cornucopia-horn of plenty entertainment, all of which was donated, to give the children a day of love, fun, smiles, and hope for a life without abuse. The lodge meeting room transformed into circus tents of color and lights, delighting the children when they walked into the room to play.
Bill Neessen Elk of the Year, POY, Public Relations Chairman
Posts: 2619
Posted on: Dec. 07 2014,3:22 pm
On hand entertaining the children was a photo booth were the children and guardians had their pictures taken, a face painter, a balloon artist – making hats and animals of the child’s choice, a magician – who not only showed his magic, but also taught the children some magic tricks, a jugglers dazzling the children and then teaching them to juggle too! We had two children of our members help the kids make their own bracelets, a caricature artist which also provide the children and family member a treasured portrait keepsake, the Orange High School choir, who not only assisted with the children in fun, but also sang to them during dinner and during activities in the lodge room
Bill Neessen Elk of the Year, POY, Public Relations Chairman
Posts: 2619
Posted on: Dec. 07 2014,3:22 pm
A total of 48 entertainers were on hand throughout the day, as well as, 13 therapy dogs that the children were able to pet and enjoy. 53 Orange Elk members volunteered to be on hand for the entire day, showering our guests with love, helping hands and smiles. To our guests, it was a “best day ever” and “An Affair to Remember”! One special member hand knitted sweaters and caps for the children to keep them warm in the upcoming winter months. The success of this event, which driven by our motto this year of: “Imagine if … LOVE…. could change the world” is best ended with a quote from DeAnn Hollis: “The heart of a volunteer is not measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others.” Orange Elks not only worked with the Eli Home Shelter to help “break the cycle of child abuse” and make a difference in the lives of the children, but truly showed through this event that “Elks Care Elks Share” and Love can change the world! Thanks to Tom Ruff for the pictures!
