The Art of Generosity

The Elks Build Stronger Communities

By Liana Measmer

When you think about the Lodge of the Elks, often social events come to mind. Hall rentals for town events and personal functions. However, they are so much more than that.

You only have to see them on the back of a fire engine, dressed in character and visiting our pediatric nursing home or local life care center to know behind all the fur and garb beat hearts committed to service.

“People don’t realize we are charitable and fraternal first,” said Ray Mahoney, Elks member.

The Elks are a fraternal order with nearly a million members and a 141-year history. With a network of more than 2,000 lodges in communities all over the country, this organization has established programs through a generous charitable foundation that each year gives millions in scholarships as well as sponsor events that engage all ages.

“All through the year, we’re out raising money,” said Michael Canfield, District Deputy. Their Americanism committee sponsors an essay contest for children in grades 5-8 to give school children the opportunity to express their views on America and what being a patriotic citizen means. The yearly Elks Hoop Shoot Free Throw Program is open to all boys and girls ages 8 through 13. The Elks Drug Awareness Program distributes literature and organizes events to make children and their parents aware of the dangers posed by alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs.

The Veterans Service Commission has patriotically served those Elks who have fought in the military. And, through several grant components, the Elks National Foundation will invest up to $2.3 million to help Elks make their communities better.

Their generosity is evident everywhere in Billerica. Through Billerica’s Lodge #2071, donations have been made to help organizations like the Boys and Girls Club. When the new club building was being built, the Elks made a sizeable donation to aid in the capital campaign.

“We really appreciated their support,” said Executive Director Ray Nagy. “We consider them to be a partner with us and the other youth organizations in town in making life better for the kids in Billerica.”

Strong supporters of scouting, our local Elks have helped local Boy Scout Troop 30 on more than one occasion. From providing meeting space, to use of the main hall, to aiding in gear storage and donating money to the troop every year supporting Eagle Ceremonies, Troop 30 was completely grateful to receive their help.

“I cannot imagine an organization that could be more supportive to a boy scout troop than the Elks,” said Troop 30 Secretary Fred Liberatore. “We are so fortunate to be one of the Elks philanthropic recipients and cannot thank them enough for their long term, continuous, and generous support.”

In Billerica, the Elks believe in growing children’s mind. That is why they give every third grader in the town their own dictionary. For many, this is the first time they ever owned one. Students at the Parker School recently sent ‘Thank You’ notes expressing gratitude for the spelling help their dictionary provides and the fact they now can access words with ease. One little girl wrote: “I feel real happy because I know every word in the world.”

For more info on these and other Elks programs, call the lodge at (978) 667-5351 or the office at (978) 667-2283.

Cleaning Green

Welcome to Everyday Green. For me, “being green” is a way of life. It helps me keep myself and my family healthy, save money, and feel like I’m really making a difference in the world. It’s my belief that even very modest changes in how we live can make a significant impact. So, I bring to you Everyday Green in hopes of helping you make each day a little greener.

What better way to get a fresh start on this New Year than by trading in your expensive, smelly, chemical-laden cleaning products for cheap, non-toxic, earthfriendly solutions you can make right at home. With a few simple items, like vinegar, baking soda, and peroxide, you can get your house just as clean as with traditional cleaning products. You’ll save money on cleaning supplies, keep the plastic bottles they come in out of our landfills, and avoid harsh chemicals that can cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritations.

The two workhorses of the green cleaning arsenal are distilled white vinegar and 3% hydrogen peroxide. You can clean and disinfect most of your house with these two easy-to-find and inexpensive products.

Thanks to its acidity, distilled white vinegar is effective at killing most mold, bacteria, and viruses. Put full strength vinegar in a spray bottle to create an all-purpose cleaner you can use on glass, mirrors, doorknobs, sinks, appliances, and countertops (just avoid using it on marble). Mix a cup of vinegar with a gallon of water to clean vinyl and linoleum floors. In place of harsh bathroom cleaning products use