LAC LA BICHE - The Lac La Biche Elks Lodge No. 470 has helped raise over three quarters of a million dollars in the past 20 years.
The local volunteer organization – that comprises of just 28 current members and their predecessors – has helped raise $764,000 over the past two decades, and has provided countless volunteer hours to communities across the region, confirmed the Grand Exalted Ruler/ National President of the Elks of Canada, Mr. Leaonard Shain during his visit to the Lac La Biche Elks lodge last week.
While speaking with the POST last Wednesday, mere hours before meeting his fellow Elks at the local Elks Hall, Shain listed some of the organizations and individuals the donations and contributions have gone towards. In the duration, the Lac La Biche Elks have raised an impressive $258,000 for community projects, donated $114,000 to the Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children, raised $180,000 in local sponsorships, $72,000 for the Alberta Elks Foundation, $35,000 towards individuals in the community, $97,000 towards other miscellaneous donations, along with the $8,000 towards other national charities. In addition to that, the local Elks have also contributed a total of 17,000 volunteer hours in the past two decades.
“These are some very impressive numbers that I have here... This has been a lodge that I have been travelling back and forth with for most of my Elk years... I want to share some of the wonderful work they (Lac La Biche Elks) are doing because, even they might be shocked at some of the numbers that I have for them,” Shain said. “I have numbers for the last twenty years in the range of three quarters of a million dollars, this local lodge has donated to charities in their community and assisting children across Canada.”
Even though there has been a prevalent decline in the number of members in service groups across the country in recent years, Shain expressed how impressed he was with the local lodge for its consistency in retaining numbers over the years, and their many contributions to their community.
“Larger lodges haven’t donated as much as they have. The Lac La Biche Elks is an incredible hardworking group, and they love to help their community,” Shain said.
Shain also took the opportunity to not only show appreciation of the local Elks community work but also encourage new members to join in, especially the youngsters in the community.
“I would encourage anyone in the community who wants to give back to their community to get involved with the Lac La Biche Elks. These are some amazing numbers and if they don't get members, the money has to come from somewhere, and if it isn’t from volunteer groups, it’s going to be taxpayers,” said Shain.
The volunteer group currently has approximately 28 community individuals named on their members list, however, only 8-10 of them are active members. According to local Elks President, Danny Stevens, the organization has made significant contributions towards the community, especially kids’ sports, regardless of the shortage of members with the group’s on-going commitment.
“Our main focus is kids' sports. We have donated a lot to kids and the ‘Special Olympics’... and (most recently) with the ball diamond as well...We have the odd barbeque, we work with casinos, we work the bingos here... and help out some of the local organizations (and events) like the local Ice Races.” added Stevens.
“Coming back out of Covid now,” Stevens and the local Elks plan to become more proactive in the community and organize barbeques and other fundraising events in the locality. In addition to that, the local lodge is also planning to attract and recruit new members who can join hands in serving the community.
The Lac La Biche Elks Club meets at 8:00 pm on every fourth Wednesday of the month at the Elks Hall on 102 Avenue in Lac La Biche. They are accepting new members.
For more information on the Elks of Canada or the Lac La Biche Elks, visit www.elksofcanada.ca
