Du Quoin Elks' gift to Anna vets' home buys cable television for a year

On June 26, the Du Quoin Elks Lodge #884 members visited the Illinois Veterans' Home in Anna (IVHA). The IVHA is an independent/assisted living facility with 72 veterans currently residing there. The Elks members were there to deliver a check in the amount of $2,000 to the veteran's home to be used to pay for cable television for 20 residents for one year. The Du Quoin Elks Lodge was able to provide these funds through the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant. The grant was made available to the Du Quoin Lodge when their members met the annual per capita goal of $4.50 per member.

During this visit, Veteran's Committee Chairman Ernie Dickie also present the veteran's home with a check for $500 to be placed in the home's activity fund. The money will be used to help offset the cost of the residents' activities, which includes dining out, barbecue cook-outs and field trips to Miner's and Saluki's ball games.

The Du Quoin Elks Lodge Veteran's Committee, with the help of the membership, collects aluminum tabs and cans and holds an annual Veteran's Day breakfast to raise funds to assist retired veterans. The Du Quoin Lodge will collect AA batteries and travel-size personal products during the next few weeks. During the Illinois Elks Association's State Convention, held in Springfield Sept. 18 - 21, these items will be boxed and shipped to service personnel serving overseas.

If you are interested in learning more about Du Quoin Elks Lodge #884's charitable works, please contact the lodge at (618)542-2130.