Fairfield Elks holds ‘Shop With a Hero’

Fairfield Elks Lodge partnered with local law enforcement agencies and fire departments to make Christmas a little brighter for those in need. Fifty-six children from 26 families were given gift cards to shop at Wal-Mart and from vouchers from Hy-Vee Food & Drugstore for a holiday meal.

Each child was teamed with an Elk member and a "local hero" for the shopping spree with every child able to ride in an emergency vehicle. Following the shopping spree, all returned to the Elks Lodge for a pizza party and a visit from Santa.

Trer planting in Waterworks Park

The Fairfield Elks Lodge purchased and planted trees in Waterworks Park on Oct. 13. Local Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts earned community service credit for assisting. Also the local troops will receive a donation from the Elks to assist Scouts attending Scout Camp next summer.

Fairfield city parks have lost dozens of trees due to age and the Emerald Ash Borer infestation. The tree planting is an annual Elks Community Investment Project for the cities parks & trail system

Both the tree planting and “Shop With a Hero” were made possible by a grant from the Elks National Foundation, the charitable arm of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Through its Community Investments Program, the Elks National Foundation awards grants to local Elks Lodges to help the Elks strengthen their communities. This year, the Elks National Foundation will award $6.5 million in grants to benefit Elks communities.

To get involved with this or other Elks Lodge projects, email Project Manager Douglas Bagby at dglsbagby@yahoo.com. For more information about how the Elks National Foundation invests in local communities, visit the Elks National Foundation website at www.elks.org/enf/community.