State Veterans/National Service Director
Thomas Callahan
(Augusta Elks Lodge #964)
The Maine Elks have always demonstrated compassion for our veterans. We treat them with respect and hold them in the highest esteem. Years ago, the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks adopted the Pledge:
"So long as there are veterans,the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.
The Maine Elks certainly do their part for our veterans:
- Adopt-a-Vet program
- Youth-Veteran program
- Donations of over $40,000 each year by Lodges to V.A. facilities across the state
- Travel over 22,000 miles
- Serve over 5000 hours of volunteer time to aid and comfort hospitalized veterans
The Maine Elks also hold special events for the veterans throughout the year, including a Fall Frolic and a Christmas Party. Many individual members also volunteer their time, putting in hundreds of hours of service to help veterans at the Togus VA Facility.
The association also assists in taking the veterans to baseball games, fishing trips and to a flower show. In 2003, the Maine Elks Association assisted with the "Golden Age Games," a national "Olympic Style" event for veterans across the country.
The Maine Elks Association has been a big supporter of the Togus VA Facility, in Augusta. Recently, the Maine Elks Association donated new exercise equipment for the facility. A total of $17,777 including a specialized treadmill, a versa-climber, and two exercise cycles. The equipment is used for cardiac and physical therapy.
Over the years, the Maine Elks have donated over $100,000 to meet the needs of veterans at the facility. Projects include:
- The building of two gazebo's
- Installation of barbeque equipment
- Purchasing a video camera for services in the chapel to be broadcast throughout the facility
- A music system for the nursing home Unit
- A10-Passenger Golf Cart to shuttle patients from the parking lot to the registration area.
- A 22 passenger bus (wheelchair accessible) for transporting the patients to off site locations
- Washers and Dryers
- Paintings in the Alzheimers Unit.
- Helped set up a computer lab for the veterans
Currently, the Maine Elks Association is working on a project to help veterans with serious disabilities to work with computers in the Togus facility's computer room. Some of these veterans can only use their mouth to operate the computers, while others are missing limbs or have limited mobility. Other veterans use the equipment that contains special cognitive retraining software. This software is critical for veterans recovering from brain injuries. If you would like to help with this project, contact MEA Veterans/National Service Director Tom Elliott at 207-442-8075.
Donations are needed for the Togus VA Medical Center. If you would like to donate, contact the Voluntary Services office at 207-621-4886
Nationwide, the Elks do their part to assist our Veterans. Click here to learn more about the Elks and their history of supporting the Veterans.
Copyright (c) 2004-2008 Maine Elks Association. All rights reserved.