I’m happy to report our Non Cash donations total $80,259, and our Cash Donations amount to $12,195 giving us total donations of $92,454 for our veterans!

Our Veterans Game Day fund raiser event will take place on Saturday, November 9th from 10:30 AM to 3ish. There will be 4 fun events for your participation. We also have planned for food and raffles to raise funds for future veterans service initiatives. We have four events, 2 Shooting - Pellet Rifle and Laser Pistol, as well as Corn Hole and Darts. You will see a signup sheet at the bar where you may schedule yourself for one event for $5 or all 4 events for a total of $20. There will be prizes for best score in each game. All proceeds will go for the Karen Gialle Memorial account which helps supplement our wheelchair veterans attending their annual event. Our contribution this year was $6,000 and at present we have $184 in the account for 2025. Your participation in the games and raffle will help us replenish this very special account for next years games.

On Veterans Day, November 11th, your Veterans Committee is serving a Free breakfast for all veterans, whether an Elk member or not! So bring your veteran friends, or family members in for a hot breakfast on Monday, November 11th from 7 AM to 9 AM.

Another way we can help our veterans is with the gift of your used (clean and functional) medical supplies. I have two outlets for used medical supplies for veterans. We can place wheelchairs, walkers, canes & crutches, bed pads and similar items. NO DRUGS however! These donations may be placed in the Pod in front of the lodge.

As usual you can help our homeless veterans by contributing Undershorts and T-shirts (Med, Lg, XL), Jeans ( W 33, 34, 36) and Socks. When you clean out your closets for Fall, please look for jackets, sweaters, long pants and heavy shirts you can donate to our homeless veterans. Please place any NEW items in the green barrel in the lounge and USED items in the Pod in the front of the lodge.

As always, a big thank you for your continued support for our veterans!

Bob

The Veterans Committee has established a Memorial to Honor our Veterans. Immediately outside our front door there are four enclosed cases that will hold 200 plaques where a veterans name, rank, years of service and military branch may be inscribed. This is a very visual way to honor our veterans and is a fund raiser for our committee. Glass plaques will be sold for $75 for any member who wishes one for their service, for a friend or family members. We have one member who plans to obtain a plaque for his father, father-in-law and himself. Signup sheets are at the bar or can be obtained by emailing bobkielsa@gmail.com, lisahensley88@gmail.com or kayleenborah@gmail.com for application forms. An application is also included as an insert in the Bugle. All plaques will be placed on the wall in the order the application and payment are received.

Sponsored by Catalina Mountain Elks Lodge #2815

By Bob Kielsa

I’m excited to announce that our lodge has two more programs

designed to support our military and veterans.

The first program is Recycle Cell Phones for our troops. Since 2004

this organization has recycled over 30 million devices, and have

provided over 400 million free minutes by sending more than 5 million

calling cards to our service personnel overseas.

You can donate by dropping your used cell phones at the lodge or

providing cash or a check (made out to Catalina Mountain Elks Lodge

#2815) in an envelope marked for veterans committee in the Cell

Phone box in the lounge.

Our second program is through an organization called Intrepid

Hospice. They are looking for volunteers willing to spend 30 to 45

minutes with those who have a short time left here on earth. One of

the worst fears everyone experiences during this dying process is

dying alone. You can make a difference.

Veterans are welcome! You know what’s in the heart of those who

have served our country and seen others give their lives in this

service. If you would like more information, or to sign up, please give

Lee Swengel, Intrepid House Chaplain a call at 682-777-5559.

My name is David Sides and I'm a member of the Outreach Department for The Pleural Mesothelioma Center.

Countless veterans are currently suffering from life-threatening illnesses that are a result of exposure to asbestos, a material that was commonly used in hundreds of military applications, products, and ships because of its resistance to fire. Veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma even qualify for special benefits from the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs.

We recently published an educational guide about pleural mesothelioma, the most common type of mesothelioma.

For More Information, Click  Here