Barre Elks Lodge 1535 received the Freedom Grant from Elks National Foundation and used the funds to purchase items and assemble cinch sacks for homeless vets. The lodge consulted and worked with Joyce Cloutier, Case Manager for Veterans Inc. in determining items that will be most useful/appreciated. Joyce, along with other staff members, distributed the cinch sacks to veterans that are homeless or at risk of being homeless.
Joyce reports the “response to them has been amazing. They were filled with items that really made a small difference in their lives in the woods. Over and over again we heard how much they appreciated this. The Elks Club has been amazing at continuously helping in different ways veterans over the years. Veterans, Inc. and all the veterans that have been recipients truly appreciate everything they are doing”.
With the change of season, Barre Lodge recently assembled ‘winter’ cinch sacks for our homeless and at risk Veterans which will also be distributed by Veteran’s Inc.
Pictured Left to Right: Joyce Cloutier, Cindy Wedding, Renee Hotaling, Kimberly Baker, Mark Hart and Frank Hotaling. (photo by Barb Watters)