Elks end year of donating with a splurge, feeding more families and playing Santa to 60 children

Over the year, the Front Royal Elks Club 2382 have stretched their limits, providing families in need due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus, helping children toward enjoying Christmas, and continuing their work toward a better life for local veterans.

Despite their good deeds, Jim Sheppard, Elks exalted ruler, found it necessary in an end-of-year newsletter to express disappointment for “what has been an unusual year” because “many of our events have had to be canceled (and) having to cancel any event whether it be for our members or our veterans is disappointing.”

Nevertheless, Sheppard was able to list the distribution of more than $15,000 in cash to 17 organizations in 2020, from scholarships to clinics, to veterans and first responders, with a nod to the 46 lodge members who volunteered 1,390 hours to support these programs. They helped considerably with, among other things, a domestic violence program, the training of a police dog and handler, animal welfare, and the Warren County backpack program.

Part of the team that handled Christmas Reaching Out Now activities for the Elks Lodge, from left to right, Dr. Gwendolyn Edwards, vice-principal of Skyline Middle School; Blue Ridge Technical Center Chef Devin Smith; Samantha Barber; Elks Jim Sheppard; and Karen Campbell. Courtesy Photo Elks Lodge

Then, on December 12, the local Elks Lodge, according to Secretary Jane Wine, donated another $3,500 to the local “Reaching Out Now” national program and on that date began preparing and delivering hot meals twice a week to scores of needy Warren County families. The meals are prepared at the direction of Chef Devin Smith, a culinary arts teacher at the Blue Ridge Technical Center.

Wines said Smith’s students help prepare and deliver the meals, some 300 a week, that hopefully will continue from now and into the spring. Elks members are active in the deliveries. Sheppard thanked Big Lots and Walmart for helping supply gifts for some 60 kids, and the Front Royal Police Department for identifying needy families and helping deliver toys and food during the holiday period.

Sadly, one of the Elks Lodge proponents of the program, Linda Kroll, a 16-year member, died in October of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. The Lodge named the “Linda Kroll Family Meal Program” in her honor.