100 families blessed by Butler Elks lodge
The chilly drizzle and gray skies Saturday morning, Nov. 23, were not enough to dampen the spirits of those handing out free turkeys and all the trimmings at the Butler Elks Lodge 170 on Kaufman Drive.
Gary Martin, exalted ruler at the lodge, said leaders were brainstorming ideas five years ago on charitable projects for the future, and decided to give away 100 turkeys in the week before Thanksgiving.
“Then we started adding the fixings to finish the meal,” Martin said. “Now the boxes also contain soup and things to make other meals.”
New this year was a winter clothing and coat giveaway. Those coming to pick up turkeys and boxes of side dishes could grab any clothing or coats they or their families needed.
By 11 a.m., the table holding the clothing was empty.
“The whole thing is to give back to our community,” Martin said.
He said lodge members donated the food and money for the turkey giveaway, and a clothing drive held at the lodge provided the free clothes and coats.
Martin explained that those who need a turkey dinner sign up to receive a bird and large box of nonperishable food, including stuffing mix, canned vegetables, mashed potato mix, rice, peanut butter, pineapple and pears.
The turkey giveaway cost the lodge $9,500 this year, and Martin and his cohorts were happy to do it.
“This is an underprivileged area, and we want to help our community all we can,” Martin said of the neighborhood surrounding Father Marinaro Park.
He said those who pick up their turkey at their prearranged time between 9 a.m. and noon often tell the lodge members helping with the giveaway that they would otherwise not have had a Thanksgiving dinner for their families.
“They’re so thankful,” Martin said. “We got hugs today.”
He said any extra turkeys, plus a $2,000 donation, are given to the Salvation Army — Butler Corps for their food bank and meal programs.
Martin said before the construction of the lodge at the north end of Father Marinaro Park in 2000, the Elks Lodge was on Main Street since the 1800s.
Randy Stevenson of Butler picked up his turkey and box of nonperishable side dishes just before noon on Saturday.
He said he had nowhere else to turn for a Thanksgiving meal for his family of four.
“I’m very appreciative,” Stephenson said. “It’s hard for me to ask. It’s humbling, but it’s great to see the community pull together and help out.”
Bill English, owner of Bill’s Interior Grooming in Butler, arrived at his assigned time to pick up a turkey for a single mother of a 4-year-old boy.
He said the woman, who he knows, has no other way of providing a Thanksgiving dinner for herself and her son.
“There are so many people who need help and the Elks have come to their aid many times,” said English, who is a member of the lodge. “The community of Butler is great. They’ve been helping each other for years.”
Martin was happy to once again help his neighbors provide their families with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
“I’m really proud of our members,” he said. “It really makes me feel good.”
