Elks Lodge cares, shares

A donation of time, money and effort by the Greencastle Elks made the new storage shed possible at Beyond Homeless.

Elks Lodge 1077 of Greencastle has been hard at work -- literally.

Already involved with the shelter since it reopened as Beyond Homeless last year, the Elks recently completed a construction project at the location.

After meeting with the shelter's board of directors on Aug. 3, Elks members took action.

Several volunteers from the lodge and the community helped construct a storage facility in Beyond Homeless' backyard. There has been limited room for storage within the main facility, and residents are often reluctant to part with any possessions. However, thanks to the Elks' use of the Gratitude Grant (sponsored by the Elks National Foundation), these individuals will not have to part with their items.

With the future in mind, the Elks have now applied for the Elks National Foundation's Beacon Grant, which must be used for ongoing, charitable and community-driven projects.

In addition, the Elks National Foundation's Community Investments Program spends $9.77 million to invest in Elks communities through Lodge grants that help Elks meet local needs each year.

Elks 1077 Trustee David Wells (above) puts his carpentry skills to work for the local lodge's project to build a new storage shed at Greencastle's Beyond Homeless.

Post-graduation from the facility is of the utmost concern for Elks' members, as well. As a way to help the transition of an individual from dependent to independent, the program includes a trip to the store with an accompanying Elks-member.

This trip, paid for by the "Elks Care, Elks Share" card, gets the graduate crucial supplies for independent living. Graduates are encouraged throughout the program, but especially after graduation, to seek employment as soon as possible.

"Lodge 1077 members are very proud and happy to have been able to assist in giving back to the Beyond Homeless shelter and our community. It's 'great to be an Elk,'" said Jo Corbitt, secretary of Elks Lodge 1077.