The Lewis County Elks Lodge recently received a Gratitude Grant through the Community Investments Program in the amount of $3500 from the National Elks Foundation. Lodge members began shopping three weeks ago to purchase, package, and distribute food baskets to families with food insecurities, elderly and disabled. Forty families received baskets overflowing with groceries throughout the last week.

The Community Investments Program began in 2005, and has funded more than 27,000 grants to help Lodges build stronger communities. Elks use grants to combat food insecurity, support people experiencing homelessness, serve veterans and military members in need, and to promote youth community service. When the program began in 2005 with a budget of $350,000, the Elks never imagined that budget would nearly quadruple in just over a decade. Now, as their largest program, the ENF invests nearly $15 million in the Community Investments Program to help Elks build stronger communities. (Elks.org)