Hillsboro Elks Lodge supports city parks, local food pantry
Left to right, delivering toilet paper and paper towels, are Greg Waggoner, Chuck Aurigema, 937 Food Pantry Director, and Steve Newby.
Steve Newby, grants coordinator at the Hillsboro Elks Lodge, met in the spring with Hillsboro City Parks Manager Caleb Gregory and asked him if there was a need for more benches and picnic tables at the city parks. He agreed the need was there.
The Elks wrote and received a $4,000 grant from the grand lodge's Elks National Foundation. Half was spent on city park benches and picnic tables, and the other half donating toilet paper and paper towels the 937 Food Pantry just outside of Hillsboro on Route 73.
The grant was written by the Hillsboro Elks Lodge this year, and they used it to donate 12 park benches and three picnic tables to the city parks.
The Elks contacted Timber Tech employee Dan Cannon, who helped us purchase Trex material a "friends and family discount" to construct the benches in hope they last a long time. Ten Elks volunteered 60 hours of time, and built the benches.
The second half of the grant we purchased $2,500 worth of toilet paper and paper towels at our local Walmart. Thanks to Walmart for selling us $2,500 worth of product for $2,000. The Elks donated this all to the 937 Food Pantry on Route 73 just north of town.
The Elks are happy to run this project and donate to our community. Anyone that is interested in joining our lodge to be a part of projects like this stop by the lodge anytime or call 937-393-3047.
Below, left to right are the Elk volunteers and city park manager Caleb Gregory accepting delivery of the benches: Blain Bradds, Matthew Newby, Caleb Gregory, Mike Nartker, Tammy Bradds, Dara Gullette and Steve Newby. Not pictured: David Mayer.
