Local Elks Lodge Makes Donations to Five Local Veterans Groups

CREVE COEUR, MO – “As long as there are veterans, the Elks will be there to support them.” is a longstanding mantra for all Elks lodges. St. Louis Lodge #9 located at 12481 Ladue Road in Creve Coeur, MO recently made donations totaling $6,200 to five (5) different Veteran’s organizations at its annual Veterans Committee Steak night. A packed house of more than 200 Elks and guests were there to support the efforts and personally thank those veterans who have sacrificed so much for the country.

Donations of $1000 each went to: SSGT Ron Bozikis Memorial Organization; Gateway Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America (accepted by quadriplegic veteran Mike Norris); H.E.R.O.E.S. Care (accepted by Jon Jerome); FOCUS Marines Foundation (accepted by Russ Lake and FOCUS Marines Executives Bryan & Jennifer Jefferson); Additionally $2,200 was donated to the Joshua Chamberlain Society for an adaptive driving kit for disabled veterans which was accepted by double amputee veteran LeGrande Strickland, proving once again that “Elks care and Elks share”.

Dave Roeth, St. Louis Lodge #9 Veterans Committee Chair said, “We are pleased for the opportunity to provide much needed funding to a variety of worthy and impactful veterans groups which support our service men and women who have served our great country. In total our lodge raised and distributed more than $25,000 to veteran’s charities over the past year, which is a tremendous undertaking and only happens through the commitment and participation of our committee and lodge members.”

Lodge #9 was joined by members of American Legion Post 404, which handed out red poppies and received unsolicited donations by Elks members and guests totaling $360.