By MARK J. SANDERS
Contributing Writer
This February, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks celebrated 154 years of community service. Poplar Bluff Elks Lodge Post 2452 is an active steward of this proud American tradition.
Donnie Trout serves as “exalted ruler” of the lodge. Despite the grand title, Trout, like all other members, is a volunteer who gives his time and efforts to the community.
“Our group is all volunteers,” Trout said. “We raise money in order to give it back to the community.
“We do it because we enjoy it.”
Trout spoke about the various national initiatives of the Elks that are carried out in our area.
The Elks are known for charitable contributions to local communities, benevolent work for America’s military veterans and college scholarships.
Local chapter donations for Elks Lodge Post 2452 in 2021 exceeded $30,000.
These funds came from a combination of local fundraising efforts and grants from the Elks National Foundation.
Efforts on behalf of local military veterans continue to be a high priority for local Elks members.
Before COVID, Elks members spent time visiting veterans at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. Veterans also spent time at the local Elks Lodge for dinners.
The lodge dinners and hospital visitations are on hold until pandemic health restrictions are lifted. However, Elks members still prepare meals and take them to the VAMC for veterans to enjoy.
Trout said, “We are hoping to restart our visits again after the pandemic.”
One activity that has continued even during COVID was providing “goodie baskets” for veterans delivered to them at Christmas.
In addition to serving veterans, the Elks also work to provide for children in the community.
The Elks Lodge has provided more than 120 pairs of shoes for children served by FosterAdopt Connect, a group that works with foster parents.
The Elks sponsor the local student of the month recognition program at seven different district schools, which includes a gift certificate and dinner event for those students.
An outstanding student of the month is taken from this group each month, and an annual banquet is held in June, where the overall winner is selected as Student of the Year. This student is awarded a one-time $500 scholarship.
Another program the Elks provide is called “Grandparents Raising Grandkids.” Children in this program receive new shoes, two gifts, and get pick out another gift for their grandparents.
Other events for children include an Americanism contest in which students submit a patriotic essay into competition, drug awareness programs, and 7-Up Splash, an event to help sixth graders make the transition from middle school to junior high.
Trout said the Elks Club is “community-oriented and distinctively American.”
These qualities are reflected in their annual Flag Day ceremony on June 14 and their Veterans Day Ceremony, which provides dinner for the local Honor Guard that performs a 21-gun salute at funerals for area veterans.
Elks Lodge Post 2452 has 336 members locally. Anyone wishing to apply needs a current member to propose them for membership. Prospective members must be at least 21 years old and an American citizen.
Trout has been recently nominated for a fourth term as leader of the local lodge. He is a retired officer from the Poplar Bluff Police Department who now works as a part-time investigator for prosecuting attorney’s office.
“We are always striving to add new members,” Trout said.