Elks earn national nod for food distribution

Presque Isle Elks Lodge 1954 Past Exalted Ruler Alan Harding received a first-place award for the club’s community service during the recent Elks national convention in Florida. From let are: the three Maine district deputies, Grand Exalted Ruler John Desjardins of Central District, Anthony Gause of Central District and Brooke Green of Northern District; Wayne Cotterly, grand lodge activities committee chairman; Grand Exalted Ruler Paul Ryan; Harding; Timothy Rodrigue, Augusta Lodge exalted ruler; Felecia Gaulin, Waterville Lodge exalted ruler; and Andy Constantine, Maine special deputy grand exalted ruler. (Courtesy of Presque Isle Elks Lodge)

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Presque Isle Elks Lodge 1954 won national praise and a first-place nod for community service during the recent Elks national convention in Florida.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks convened in Tampa July 3-7. Alan Harding, Past Exalted Ruler for the Presque Isle lodge, was present to receive, for the third consecutive year, the first-place award in Division II for Presque Isle’s Community Project. 

For their project, lodge members worked with Catholic Charities to distribute 12 tractor-trailer loads of food boxes — more than 15,000 boxes with a value in excess of $1 million — to those facing food insecurity. The food was distributed during 11 separate events in Presque Isle.

Other Maine lodges awarded included the Waterville Lodge #905, which received the first-place award in Division III, and Augusta Lodge #964, received the second-place award in Division III.