On Nov. 15, St. Augustine Elks Lodge #829 donated its $2,500 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to Epic-Cure for its Sustain U cooking classes. Epic-Cure is a 501(c)(3) organization that rescues food from many sources, such as grocery stores and farms, to fight food waste and food insecurity by distributing this food to those in need. Their cooking program uses local chefs and senior citizen volunteers who mentor students from Title 1 schools near the age of entering the workforce and veterans, teaching them cooking skills to help build their resumes and feed their families. The lodge also collects used plastic grocery bags to be used when food is distributed.

Pictured in the warehouse in the front row are Cathy Walsh, lodge charity chair; Sunny Mulford, Elk and Epic-Cure executive director; and Sarah McLevy, Lodge Grants Coordinator. In the second row are Epic-Cure volunteers Jane, Maura and Karl.