Each year, Emergency Care Help Organization requests help and donations from the community so they can continue to provide a hot Thanksgiving meal along with a Blessing Bag to families living in local motels. The bags are full of groceries and toiletries. In October, Terri Ciesla, Brandon Ladies of Elks President, went shopping with $1,760 from the lodge charity account to purchase shampoo and conditioner, baby wipes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bars of soap, peanut butter and jelly, crackers, beef jerky, granola bars, and fruit snacks. On Oct. 28, 10 Brandon Ladies of Elks gathered at the lodge to fill 100 Blessing Bags. On Oct. 29, Brandon Ladies Gayle Cook, Charlene Hart and Terri Ciesla delivered the bags to ECHO.

Pictured in the front with the bags are Charlene Hart; Ann Fox, PLP; Kathy Bilinski; and Terri Ciesla, President. In the back are Ann Marie Florentino; Jane Moon, PSP-FLOE; Janice Jacobson; Barbara O’Brien; Judy Kilchenstein and Beverly Lowe.