Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Community service is at the heart of Sanford Elks Lodge #1679. Our members believe that being an Elk means more than belonging to an organization—it means recognizing needs in our community and doing something about them.
Through partnerships with local organizations, Elks National Foundation grants, member donations, and hands-on volunteer service, Sanford Elks work throughout the year to make a difference for children and families in Sanford and Lee County.
🎒 BACKPACK PALS
Fighting Childhood Hunger — One Backpack at a Time
One of Sanford Elks Lodge #1679's most important community partnerships is our support of the Backpack Pals Program operated by Christians United Outreach Center (CUOC).
For children who depend on school breakfast and lunch programs, weekends and school breaks can create a serious gap in access to food. Backpack Pals helps bridge that gap by providing food for local children to take home when school meals are not available.
100% OF OUR GRATITUDE GRANT GOES TO BACKPACK PALS
Each year, Sanford Elks Lodge #1679 contributes 100% of its Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to CUOC's Backpack Pals Program.
That commitment allows the entire grant to stay right here in our community, helping provide food for local children who might otherwise face hunger when they are away from school.
The Gratitude Grant is part of the Elks National Foundation Community Investments Program, which provides funding to Elks Lodges to address important needs in the communities where Elks live and work.
By supporting the Elks National Foundation, our members help make programs like Backpack Pals possible right here in Sanford and Lee County.
👟 CLEATS FOR KIDS
Helping Kids Get in the Game
Every child deserves the opportunity to participate, compete, and be part of a team.
Through our Cleats for Kids program, Sanford Elks Lodge #1679 helps provide athletic footwear to local young people who need it. A pair of cleats may seem like a small thing, but for a child who wants to participate in sports, having the proper equipment can make the difference between watching from the sidelines and getting onto the field.
By helping remove that barrier, our Lodge gives local children an opportunity to experience the teamwork, confidence, friendships, and life lessons that come from participating in youth sports.
🎁 TOYS FOR TEENS
Making the Holidays Brighter
Older children can sometimes be overlooked during holiday toy drives, but Sanford Elks believe every young person deserves to feel remembered during the holidays.
Through Toys for Teens, our Lodge helps provide age-appropriate gifts for local teenagers and families who could use a little extra help during the holiday season.
It's another way Sanford Elks members turn "Elks Care — Elks Share" from a motto into action.
ELKS BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES
Backpack Pals, Cleats for Kids, and Toys for Teens are just some of the ways Sanford Elks Lodge #1679 works to strengthen our community.
Whether we're fighting childhood hunger, helping a young athlete get onto the field, making the holidays brighter, or responding to another local need, our goal remains the same:
SEE A NEED. LEND A HAND. MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Our local efforts are strengthened by the Elks National Foundation and its Community Investments Program, which puts resources into the hands of local Elks Lodges to address needs and improve the quality of life in their communities.
Elks Care — Elks Share