focuses on Webb City Elks Lodge Providing Community Support

By Don Lowe

The Webb City Elks Lodge, which is celebrating 120 years in this Southwest Missouri town, is all about providing community support for wide-ranging initiatives, including everything from assistance for veterans and area youth to a variety of fundraisers, and so much more.

In this space, there’s just a sampling of the terrific charity work this specific Lodge (#861) has been involved with over the past five years.

Esteemed Leading Knight Cheri Badgley says, “The Elks were founded on the ‘Four Cardinal Virtues’ of charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity. We vow to always uphold these virtues in our community and with our Elks brothers and sisters.

“Not only do we support our community, but we support each other, while pulling together to help members in time of need. We have many social events and other gatherings just to enjoy the camaraderie of our Elks family. However, our primary purpose is to serve our community.”

Examples of how the local Webb City Elks Lodge #861 has helped veterans include the following:

• Contributed more than $60,000 in donations of non-cash items, including more than 1,200 volunteer hours.

• In the Wreaths Across America event, sponsored 15 wreaths for grave markers at Mt. Hope Cemetery during the holiday season.

• Volunteered time to cook 300 brats for service men and women as a morale booster at Whitman Air Force Base.

• Donated $5,500 to American Legion/VFW support for their Rally Around the Flag project for landscaping and flagpole at their new building on North Main Street in Webb City.

• Each year, there’s a Veteran’s Day ceremony performance at Memorial Park in Webb City followed by a free chili luncheon for veterans at the Lodge. Youth from area schools are also involved. Buglers from the Webb City High School band plays Taps, the Webb City JROTC presents the colors and the Carl Junction High School Show Choir perform the National Anthem and God Bless America.

• Each year, the Past Exalted Rulers Association and the Lodge purchase $500 worth of stamps in November and deliver them to the Mt. Vernon Veteran’s Home for residents to send Christmas cards to their friends and loved ones. This past November, $500 was also donated to purchase Christmas gifts for the residents. Also, the Lodge partnered with other local businesses and organizations with a $500 donation in support of the Carthage VFW Auxiliary’s Christmas in July event. Additionally in 2019, the Lodge partnered with Carl Junction Intermediate Schools students and donated $2,000 to purchase electric razors for residents at the home.

• The Lodge has provided help to homeless veterans in several ways, such as donating washer and dryer units and storm doors to the Patriot Park Apartments in Carterville and partnering with the Joplin VA to assist with household items.

As for support of local youth, Webb City Elks Lodge #861 has focused on the following:

• Awards two $1,000 scholarships each year to a Webb City High School and Carl Junction High School senior with preference given to students seeking a trade, vocation or agricultural-related certificate or degree.

• Donations of $4,000 to Webb City Cares programs and $6,500 to Carl Junction Bright Futures. Additionally, donated components valued at $2,500 for construction of a hydroponic garden at Carl Junction High School, while also sponsoring art groups, archery teams and FBLA programs with various donations. In previous years, there were annual donations of $100 gift cards to all first-year teachers in Webb City and Carl Junction school districts.

There’s a lot more community-wide efforts, including a Christmas Basket Program and first responders’ cookout, as well as donations to Watered Gardens and Joplin Humane Society, among others.

Badgley is thrilled to be a part of this organization and its good works and says makes her most proud is “seeing it all come together for a common purpose and knocking it out of the park.”

Webb City Elks Lodge #861

Fast Facts

Address: 1010 N. Madison, Webb City, Missouri

Website: www.elks.org (national website) /https://www.elks.org/lodges/home. cfm?LodgeNumber=0861 (local link on national website)

Email address: webbycityelks@gmail.com

Leadership Team: Chase Emery, Exalted Ruler; Cheri Badgley, Esteemed Leading Knight; Shawn Mayes, Esteemed Loyal Knight; Chris Bickett, Esteemed Lecturing Knight; Phil Cook, Past Exalted Ruler (PER), Secretary; Robin Duke, Treasurer; David Pyle, PER, Esquire; Derek Walrod, Tiler; Stacy Cook, Chaplain; Tony Perry, Inner Guard; Steven Taylor, Trustee 3-year; Krystal Bickett, Trustee 2-year; and Jeremy Hubbard, PER, Trustee 1-year

Mission: From www.elks.org: Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the U.S.A. (A Fraternal Organization)

To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share.

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