Viera Elks Lodge #2817 used its Elks National Veterans Service Commission Focus Grant to make several donations for veterans this quarter. On March 3, the lodge donated $2,500 to New Life Mission, whose goal is to permanently break the generational cycle of homelessness by providing safe shelter, on-site child care, in-house mental health counseling, access to health care, transportation, education, nutrition, job training, and life skills education to women and their children experiencing homelessness.
On March 11, they donated $600 to a veteran for car repairs, and on March 19 they donated $280 for an emergency overnight hotel room. The lodge partners with the Brevard County Veterans Coalition, a volunteer entity comprised of veterans educating other veterans about VA claims, housing assistance, medical appointments and more. They coordinate efforts and serve as the conduit for communication among local veterans. The coalition screens the veterans and advises the lodge of those who are in the most critical need of assistance.
On March 22, the lodge donated $836 to The ARC of the Space Coast, an organization designed to be a transitional solution. Their veteran’s program helps unhoused veterans with disabilities adapt to stable housing over the course of 18 to 24 months. They help them transition into the community in a safe, supported way. The donation will be used to purchase food and hygiene supplies for the veterans who live in the new facility.