LAKE HOPATCONG ELKS
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
HELPING AREA YOUTH
& SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS
LEAP IN THE LAKE FOR OUR SPECIAL KIDS AND THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY
This event raises money for our area youth in our community to be dedicated to supporting youth sports teams, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, and other youth events and activities. In addition, the money raised at our Leap in the Lake helps us send area special needs kids to a summer camp tucked away in the hill of the Ramapo Mountains called Elks Camp Moore. This camp offers a fun filled vacation away from home for children with special needs. A week at Elks Camp Moore is a remarkable experience not soon to be forgotten. The primary goal of the camp is to further develop the recreational and social skills of each child. In a relaxed and accepting atmosphere, each camper experiences new adventures, lasting friendships, and opportunities that promote independence and greater self-confidence.
ASSISTING AREA FAMILIES IN NEED AT CHRISTMAS
HOLIDAY APPEAL
FOR AREA FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL NEEDS
Every year the members of Lake Hopatcong Elks "adopt" more than 300 area children from approximately 100 local families who are struggling financially. Our members buy these children toys and clothes for Christmas and the lodge donates a food basket filled with non-parishable food items as well as a Shop-Rite gift card. The names of these children and families are kept confidential and the gifts and food baskets are picked up and distributed to the families by representatives from the schools and churches in our area.
If you would like to donate to this amazing program, please click the DONATE button below.
ASSISTING WOUNDED WARRIORS & FALLEN HERO FAMILIES
ARMY OF HOPE PICNIC
The Elks Army of Hope mission statement has remained clear since it's inception…”To assist our Wounded Warriors and our Fallen Hero families”…and that statement and mission will ring true for the 2015-2016 Elk year.
We are still at war. Though the draw down has begun, New Jersey sons and daughters continue to die and become severely wounded. With the death of a loved one, part of a family, neighborhood and community dies. The parents, the children or grandchildren, aunts and uncles, friends, neighbors, co-workers all lose part of their hearts. The war has fallen from the front pages of the news but not for us. We are trying our best to support out Wounded Warriors and the families of our Fallen Heroes. We are becoming more and more aware of more troops that are severely wounded as time goes by that need our help.
If you would like to donate to this incredible event, please click the DONATE button below.
ASSISTING
DISABLED VETERANS
VETERANS COMMITTEE HELPS OUR AREA DISABLED VETERANS
Are you passionate about serving veterans? Put that passion into action. Join our Veterans Committee and make a difference in the lives of these incredible men and women. We travel to Lyons Hospital to play BINGO with the disabled Veterans who reside in that facility, we host a summer picnic and a Thanksgiving Dinner and invite the area disabled Vets to attend, we hold seminars for Vets and their families to keep them informed of the many opportunities availble to them, we donate much needed clothes and supplies to both area disabled Vets and soldiers overseas, and we involve the area 3rd through 8th grade students and have them make hand-made holiday cards for our area disabled Veterans.
For more information, or to volunteer to help, email Veterans Committee Chairperson Peg Sharpe Murphy at peglakeside@gmail.com
SENDING LOCAL STUDENTS
TO PEER LEADERSHIP
CONFERENCE
ELKS PEER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
For the past 26 years, the NJ Elks have sponsored a Peer Leadership Conference. Our objectives are to increase participants' ability to make healthy decisions for themselves and others, specifically related to drugs and alcohol in their schools and communities.
We provide peer leaders with specific tools and resources to implement action plans in their communities, thus creating a network with the ability to educate their groups, schools, and towns on the skills presented at the conference. The conference gives participants knowledge and information that promotes wellness.
The Peer Leadership Conference is geared towards students in 9th through 12th grade. It is held every January/February and the cost to attend the 3 day event, which is $375 per student, is paid for by the Elks lodge closest to where the student lives.
For more information, contact the Drug Awareness Committee Chairperson Dee Krowl at 973-390-0638
HOSTING HOLIDAY PARTIES FOR AREA SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS
SPECIAL CHILDRENS COMMITTEE
Our Special Childrens Committee is very active and are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our area special needs children. Every year we host holiday parties for the children so that they can experience the same joy as every other child. These holiday parties include an Easter Party with a visit from the Easter Bunny. Another favorite is our Halloween Party complete with a "Trunk or Treat" event where our lodge members open and decorate their car trunks and provide treats to the children as they go Trick or Treating from car to car in the safe environment of our lodge parking lot. An end-of-the-year favorite is our Christmas Party, with a special visit from Santa! This year we added another exciting event - our Special Childrens Prom. This event was so memorable for our special kids as they got to experience the magical feeling of going to the Prom, one that many of these kids have never had.
For more information, or to volunteer to help for one of these events, contact the Special Childrens Committee Chairperson Wayne McDonnell at 862-579-5615.