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Woodmen assist Elks with fundraising
Two local organizations have combined their resources in order to more adequately provide assistance to members of the surrounding community.
On Friday, Modern Woodmen Representative JoLynne Stainbrook and Modern Woodmen Youth Service Club representative Adina Findley presented members of the Fort Scott Elks Lodge with a check for $500 that will be used for various Elks projects, according to Stainbrook.
Elks member Bill Brittain said the money that was given to the Elks by the Modern Woodmen was intended to match the $500 raised during a golf tournament the Elks club organized and conducted recently.
"There intent was to match up to $500 from the golf tournament to go to help the community," Brittain said.
According to Brittain, the local Elks club is a national organization that works diligently to provide support to the community of Fort Scott.
"The national organization is second to only the federal government in giving scholarships to children," Brittain said.
In addition to providing scholarships, Brittain said the Elks supports the community by helping conduct a Christmas basket program which provides a turkey and all the food required to make a Christmas meal. The baskets are distributed to area residents.
The organization also helps with the community Thanksgiving dinner that fed about 600 people last year. The Elks Lodge organizes the city fireworks each year for the Fourth of July celebration and honors a veteran once a month.
There are also many youth-oriented events conducted through the Elks organization each year such as an Elks Hoop Shoot and an Elks Soccer Shoot. According to Brittain, the Elks Lodge also conducts steak dinner fundraisers to raise money for projects such as the Fort Scott Middle School's Washington Workshop trip.
However, Brittain said the work the Elks Lodge does for the local community could not be completed if it were not for the help and support of various organizations, businesses and residents such as the Modern Woodmen.
"There is no way we could do all that we do without the support of the community," Brittain said. "We're very active and we take on some pretty big projects that do a lot of good for the community. It takes an entire community to do these projects. JoLynne does a great job. They (Modern Woodmen) deserve to be honored. It's not often you see an insurance company that puts back into the community."
According to Stainbrook, the Modern Woodmen is a fraternal benefit society that gives back to the community.
"We have an adult camp and a youth camp and each one has different fundraisers we can do to raise funds for the community," Stainbrook said. "Modern Woodmen focuses on the community to help service people's needs. The money can be used for a variety of different things that will help the community. That's their (Modern Woodmen) way of giving back to the members."
According to a press release from the Modern Woodmen, the club not only helps community members through monetary donations, but it also helps teach local youth the importance of community service and involvement as well as patriotism.
"The Fort Scott club is one of approximately 800 youth clubs nationwide that provides young Modern Woodmen members with opportunities to volunteer, be patriotic, learn new skills, make friends and have fun," the press release said. "Club members donate more than 300,000 hours of volunteer service each year. The Matching Fund Program offers club members the chance to show their support of community cause or an individual in need by holding fundraisers."
In 2008, the Modern Woodmen Matching Funds projects raised $6.5 million that was contributed to community projects, local organizations and individuals in need.
The story about the golf tournament can be seen here.