The Americanism Committee of the Frankfort Elks Lodge #530 is sponsoring an essay contest for Franklin County students in grades 5 through 8. The theme of this year’s contest is “What Makes You Proud of America?” The contest has two separate divisions: one for grades 5 and 6, and one for grades 7 and 8.

The local lodge will judge the submissions it receives from all the schools in Franklin County and send three winners in each division on to the district level of judging. These three winners in each division will receive a prize from the Frankfort Elks. Below you will find download links for the cover sheets for the contest along with the rules for the contest. You may make extra copies if needed. The submission deadline for this essay contest is December 15, 2018. Essays should be submitted to the lodge at the following address:

Frankfort Elks Lodge #530 Essay Contest
309 Lewis Street
Frankfort KY 40601

If you have any questions about the contest, you may contact the local Americanism Chairman, Mr. John Snyder, at (502) 330-3426.

• 2018-19 Americanism Essay Contest Entry Form and Rules (0 downloads)
• 2018-19 Americanism Essay Contest Poster (1 download)

Our newest Life Member is Past State President Walter O. Rogers. After the lodge voted him as a life member, ER John Snyder and KY State President Charlie Cunningham traveled to Thomson Hood Veterans Center in Wilmore to present W.O. with his new Life Membership card. Congratulations to W.O., and many thanks for his long years of service to our lodge and our State Association!

Also recently elected to life membership were our current lodge Chaplain, Doug Sanderson. Our current KY State President, Charlie Cunningham was recently elected as an honorary Life Member as well!

This past Friday night, our Frankfort Elks set up shop at the Friday Night Concert Series to hand out 250 backpacks filled with school supplies. We had a great turnout, and we even had a few backpacks left over. These have been placed at local businesses, so if your child is in need of school supplies for the coming year, please check with one of our local partners, including:

• General Rental
• Fast Freddy’s Car Wash
• Pic Pac Grocery
• Staxx BBQ

You can also find backpacks at the Frankfort Simon House. Many thanks to everyone who helped distribute these backpacks, and to the generous grant from the Elks National Foundation that helped fund this endeavor!

The Franklin County Senior Citizens Center provides a number of services to seniors in our community, including an emergency food pantry. This pantry helps seniors who are having trouble covering the cost of their food during any given month. Each year, our lodge steps in to help by donating $2,000 in food and groceries. This gift was made possible through a Beacon Grant from the Elks National Foundation.

This year is no exception. Pictured above is Diana Rogers (left), Outreach Coordinator for the center, and Frankfort Elk Bill Moore, PDDGER (right). Also in attendance but not pictured was Frankfort Elk Sandy Moore.

This donation has become a yearly tradition for our lodge, and we’re proud to help Franklin County’s seniors in need. Want to get involved? Check out our Membership page for information on how you can become a member!

Frankfort Elks members delivered 35 gently used men’s coats, various other clothing items, and suitcases to the Veterans Clothing room at the Lexington VA on Leestown Road. This was fourth year that the Elks have partnered with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Employees “We Care” Coat Drive that is coordinated by Shannon Martin. Pictured above from left to right are VA volunteer Alfredo Miranda, VA clothing room supervisor Ana Miranda, and Frankfort Elk Sandy Moore.

This is just another example of how our members honor the pledge that Elks have made: “So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.” If you want to join in on our efforts to help our veterans, find out more about our lodge on our membership page, or talk to an Elks member about joining.