Here is how we help our veterans
VETERANS COMMITTEE REPORT
By Robert Kielsa PER
Our Non Cash donations have reached $130,335, Cash donations total $20,240, and we have $33,597 in Welcome Home Kits for our Homeless Veterans. This brings our total Veteran donations to $184,172 for this lodge year ending on March 31, 2026. Our goal is $200,000 in donations for 2025/2026 Elk year. We will have year end numbers for you in our May report.
Please mark your calendars for our Spring Dart Tournament scheduled for Saturday, April 25th. This has been a very entertaining/fun fundraising event for our veterans. If you haven’t participated in this event before please consider giving it a try. Its a great way to meet members of our lodge and in the process provide support for many veteran issues that need our help. You may sign up in the bar. And rest assured the pot luck is one you will enjoy and remember.
You can help our homeless veterans by contributing new Undershorts and T-shirts (Med, Lg, XL), Jeans ( W 33, 34, 36) and Socks. Please place any NEW items in the White barrel in the lounge and USED items in the Pod in front of the lodge. As always, a big thank you for your continued support for our veterans!
VETERAN'S MEMORIAL WALL DISPLAY PLAQUES
The Veterans Committee has established a Memorial to Honor our Veterans, First Responders, Fire and Police. Immediately outside our front door there are four enclosed cases that will hold 200 plaques where a veterans name, rank, years of service and military branch may be inscribed. This is a very visual way to honor our veteran and first responders, and is a fund raiser for our committee. Glass plaques will be sold for $75 for any member who wishes one for their service, for a friend or family members. We have one member who plans to obtain a plaque for his father, father-in-law and himself. Signup sheets are at the bar or can be obtained by emailing bobkielsa@gmail.com, lisahensley88@gmail.com or kayleenborah@gmail.com for application forms. An application is also included as an insert in the Bugle. All plaques will be placed on the wall in the order the application and payment are received.
Two new programs
Sponsored by Catalina Mountain Elks Lodge #2815
By Bob Kielsa
I’m excited to announce that our lodge has two more programs designed to support our military and veterans.
The first program is Recycle Cell Phones for our troops. Since 2004 this organization has recycled over 30 million devices, and have provided over 400 million free minutes by sending more than 5 million
calling cards to our service personnel overseas.
You can donate by dropping your used cell phones at the lodge or providing cash or a check (made out to Catalina Mountain Elks Lodge #2815) in an envelope marked for veterans committee in the Cell
Phone box in the lounge.
Our second program is through an organization called Intrepid Hospice. They are looking for volunteers willing to spend 30 to 45 minutes with those who have a short time left here on earth. One of the worst fears everyone experiences during this dying process is dying alone. You can make a difference.
CELEBRATE THE - Veterans - ALL GAVE SOME - SOME GAVE ALL
