Barre Lodge provides support for the Veterans’ Place in Northfield, Vermont

Barre Elks Lodge #1535 was the recipient of a $2000 Beacon Grant from Elks National Foundation again this year.  Beacon Grants offer Elks Lodges the opportunity to develop an ongoing, charitable, Elks-led community project.

Barre Lodge chose to continue it’s work with the Veterans’ Place in Northfield, Vermont to help meet and fulfill the needs of the Veterans it serves.  The Veterans’ Place is a transitional housing facility combined with assistive services for Homeless Veterans in Central Vermont. Their goal is to help Homeless Veterans transition from the homeless population. The purpose of the Veterans’ Place is to help Vermont’s Homeless Veterans by providing desperately needed resources in an all-in-one locale so these Veterans may regain their PRIDE, reach their full potential, and once again become contributing members of society.

Lodge members purchased essential items needed by Veterans transitioning from the Veterans’ Place into their own housing. This year, Barre Lodge focused on kitchen items such as pots and pans, can openers, cookie sheets, silverware, utensils, cutting boards, storage containers, glasses, pizza pans, mixing bowls, crock pots, measuring spoons and cups, glasses, and baking dishes.  Items were presented in laundry baskets as “welcome home kits”.  The kits also contained brooms, mops and garbage cans.  Eight American flags and brackets were also donated as part of the Lodge’s Americanism program. Each Veteran transitioning from the Veterans’ Place will be able to use items from their kit to set up their new home.