Gainesville Elks Lodge #990 uses the Elks National Veterans Service Commission Welcome Home Kit program to help veterans move from homelessness into independent living. The lodge partners with the local HUD-VASH Honor Center to receive the names of veterans in need and quickly responds to the social workers’ requests for assistance in providing the veterans with their immediate needs. To date, the lodge has submitted 36 kits to the ENVSC for reimbursement and have given more than 120 kits total to veterans, using additional funds from their Veterans account and ENVSC Freedom Grants. The ENVSC provides reimbursement per veteran of up to $400 per kit and up to $600 for each kit that includes a bed.

On Oct. 18, veteran Eric Lema and his twin daughters, Raediance and Raelynn, received their kit. The girls got new beds and bedding. Eric and his family received other donated furniture and household items. On Dec. 16 and Dec. 17, the lodge shopped for eight veterans, four each day. Pictured are Linda Califf, Veterans Chair, and Lori Salmons, Elk volunteer and bartender.