Letter to the Editor: Elks needs support

By Sun Advocate

Editor:
The Elks Lodges around the U.S. have been struggling to keep their doors open and the lodge in our area is no exception.
The Elks is a very unique place that provides several very valuable services to our community.
The following is a brief summary of the things that the Elks support.
Nationally the Elks have many youth programs such as Teen and/or Student of the Month/Year Program, Eagle Scout and Girl Scout Recognition all-year program, Hoop Shoot, Elks Nation Youth Week, Soccer shoot, Red Ribbon Month, Christmas Charities Program (Sub for Santa golf), Most Valuable Student Scholarship. In addition to the youth programs, the Elks also has other things that they do for the community such as; Mother’s Day program, Law and Order Night, Flag Day Ceremony, Veteran’s Remembrance month, Adopt A Vet Program, Thanksgiving Benefit Baskets, Memorial Services, National Patriotism Week and Flag Day Services.
That is the National level of the Elks these are things that are supported by Elks Lodges nationwide but they are not the only things that the Elks do.
One of the things that the Elks does on the state level is Camp Wapiti; Camp Wapiti is a summer camp for handicap children that the Elks of Utah owns. There are 13 lodges in Utah and each lodge has a cabin at the camp that they maintain and support. Each year volunteers from each lodge come together at the camp and clean up the cabins and grounds of the camp to prepare it for the children’s arrival. Upkeep and maintenance of the camp is supported on a state level. Each state has something special like this that they support.
On a local level each Elks has their own special projects that they work on here in Price.
We have the boxing club, baseball, hoop shoot, soccer shoot, cub scouts, a Halloween celebration for the Castle Valley center, and the newest charity that we are starting is called Anastacia’s Hope.
Anastacia’s Hope is a new fund created to assist families with children that are fighting a life threatening illness. The mission of Anastacia’s Hope: is to let families know that they are not alone in their hope for a better tomorrow, they have a whole community’s support. Anastacia’s Hope will do this by providing added financial support to help the families with unexpected expenses such as travel, lodging and meals while seeking medical treatment for life threatening illness of a child. Inspiration.
The inspiration for this was the McGinnis family and their sweet Anastasia, hence the name Anastacia’s Hope. Looking at the strength and courage of this child and her family it seems only natural that her name be used.