State Sponsor's Message

What do the Elks do for Veterans? Here’s what we do and you can be proud

of it.

We have about 600 official Elk representatives and deputy representatives

who make regular visits throughout the year to more than 300 Veterans

Administration facilities and State Veterans facilities. Among other activities,

they conduct bingo for the patients and provide toiletries and playing cards.

They provide leather gloves for use by Veterans confined to wheelchairs.

Our latest program is the “Welcome Home Program”. The Elks have partnered with the VA in an effort to eliminate Veteran Homelessness. To show that we mean business, the Elks pledged One Million Dollars per year for four years to fund this new program. We have already helped 6,000 Veterans move into and furnish new homes. We helped countless others secure emergency housing assistance. In many cases Lodges and individual Elks working with these Veterans continue to maintain personal contact with them.

Please get involved with our Welcome Home Program. You can contact Chairman Marty Harbolt of the State Veterans Service Committee at the Louisville Elks Lodge.

And the next time you see any of the dedicated Elks who serve as our VAVS representatives and deputy representatives, please give them a pat on the back and thank them for all they do. They are Paul Dickerson of Newport, Janet Cartwright of Madisonville, Sulena Bryant of Frankfort, Brian Kinney of Cynthiana, Tom Armstrong of Lyndon, Cheryl Blake of Hopkinsville and Martin Harbolt. Each of these dedicated Elks personifies our motto: “So long as there are Veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.”

Lester Hess, PGER

Kentucky Sponsor