On July 28, Holley-Navarre Elks Lodge #2787 members Ben Gray, Veterans Committee Chair; TJ Carey, PER, Exalted Ruler; Charlie Mussari; and Skip Dalle Molle bought and assembled five boxes of household goods, including dishware, pots, pans and supplies necessary to initially stock a veteran’s new apartment. These home kits are part of the 2023 Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant awarded to the lodge for Project Welcome Home. This was the first half of the grant used and it cost $1,153 for these kits. Kits were given to the local Veterans Administration facility at Eglin Air Force Base for distribution to qualified veterans who are moving into HUD housing. Due to rising prices and costs, the additional five kits will be assembled and delivered at a later date and any additional costs will be covered from the lodge charity fund. Also presented in each kit is a star cut from a U.S. flag from the retirement box with the phrase, “As long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.”
Pictured are Ben Gray, Skip Dalle Molle and Charlie Mussari. Also pictured are Ben Gray, Charlie Mussari and Eric VanDerMollen, VA representative, with the kits in the background. Also shown is the star and lodge note.