Giving Back

Oglesby Elks help Library in Covid19 fight October 2020

A Plexiglas shield was purchased and installed on the circulation desk of the Oglesby Illinois Public Library with the financial aid of the Oglesby Elks Lodge #2360. A $500 grant was made available from the Elks National Foundation (ENF) and donated to the library to help in the control of the virus. Shown separated by the shield are from left Oglesby Lodge Exalted Ruler Lee Thompson, Grant Coordinator Ken Ficek and on the other side of the shield, Library Executive Director Jill Shevokas and Library Board President Rich Vollmer.

Oglesby Elks help in Covid19 Virus Control October 2020

School Principal Jyll Jasiek shows off the Plexiglas desk shields that will be installed on the teacher’s desks in the classrooms in Oglesby Holy Family Catholic School, to Oglesby Illinois Elks Lodge #2360 Grant Coordinator Ken Ficek and Lodge Exalted Ruler Lee Thompson. A $1,500 grant was made available from the Elks National Foundation (ENF) to purchase the shields. ENF offered these funds to help with the problems created by the virus.

Oglesby Elks help in fight against the Covid 19 October 2020

Oglesby Washington Jr. High purchased a disinfecting sprayer/mister with the help of a $1,500 Beacon Grant made available from the Elks National Foundation through Oglesby Illinois Elks Lodge #2360. Shown inspecting the sprayer a from left to right are Principal Merritt Burns, Custodian Greg Hybki, Elks Exalted Ruler Lee Thompson, and Lodge Grant Coordinator and PER Ken Ficek. The sprayer is being used to help disinfect areas of the school and help protect against the spread of the Covid 19 virus.

Oglesby Elks help out local Food Pantry June 2020

Oglesby Elks Lodge 2360 has come through to support the needs of the Illinois Valley Food Pantry. After they removed their protective masks, Lee Thompson (left) exalted ruler and Ken Ficek, lodge grant coordinator, are shown presenting a check for $2,000 to Mary Jo Credi, food pantry executive director. The Spotlight Grant was made available from the Elks National Foundation to help fund the pantry’s summer “meals for children of needy families” and will purchase approximately 200 lunch and breakfast meal packages. The Lodge had earlier in the year provided an ENF Gratitude Grant for $1,000 to help with regular expenses of the pantry.

Oglesby Elks help with Illinois Valley PADS new addition (November 2019)

Caro Alcorn, PADS Executive Director took Oglesby Elks #2360 Trustee Shawn West and Ken Ficek, Exalted Ruler and Lodge Grant Coordinator, on a tour of the new 5,000 sq. ft. addition to the local homeless shelter. They are shown inspecting the new beds that were purchased through local donations. The Elks Lodge helped sponsor a bed by using an Illinois Elks Association, IEA, $1,000 grant and also provided a $500 gift pharmacy certificate from an ENF Gratitude Grant to be used for client’s medications.

Oglesby Elks help Food Pantry at Thanksgiving 2019

Members of Oglesby Elks Lodge #2360 assisted with the packing of about 600 bags of groceries at the Illinois Valley Food Pantry that will be distributed to needy families for Thanksgiving. In addition, the Lodge donated $750 from an Elks National Foundation (ENF) grant to help restock the shelves with turkeys and hams for Christmas. Oglesby Elks shown here include in the front row are Tim Watkins, Bob Weiss, Food Pantry Manager Tim Carr, Chuck Sherman and Dave Grajewski, with Ralph Storck, Pam Coffey, Shawn West and Ray Brandt in the back row.