The Seattle Elks Lodge #92

Seattle Elks Veterans Services 

The Seattle Veterans Stand Down

This year marked The Seattle Elks participation in the Seattle Stand Down for Homeless Vets.  The Stand Down was held at Seattle Central Community College and was attended by Service Providers from the Seattle VA, IRS, Several Law Firms, Free Dental & Hair Cut Services were also available.  There were many donated items of new clothing, boots, sleeping bags and packs as well.  The Seattle Elks prepared and distributed 765 individual sack lunches to homeless Veterans.

Seattle Central Community College President Paul T. Killpatrick, Phd with Seattle Stand Down Director Sam Barrett and Seattle Elks Lodge Leading Knight/Veterans Chairman Kevin Bouffiou at the Stand Down Service Providers Appreciation Dinner held on Veterans Day, November 11th 2011

The First Veterans Hospital

At the 1917 Elks National Convention, Member R.E. Umbel, Uniontown PA Lodge #370 proposed the following resolution: “Resolved: That the sum of One Million Dollars be appropriated by the Grand Lodge to be known as “The War Relief Fund,” such funds to be contributed by our Subordinate Lodges.” (That’s 70 Million in today’s dollars)

In the beginning, there were two fully equipped Base Hospitals funded by our Order. Base Hospital #41 was organized from the faculty and alumni of the University of Virginia. The second, Base Hospital, #46 was organized at the University of Oregon. These two hospitals were transported overseas in support of our troops in France.  At the wars end, the first Veteran’s “Reconstructive Hospital” was built in Boston by the Elks and donated to the federal government in 1919.  This later became one of the first Veterans Administration Hospitals when the VA was created in 1930 to consolidate all veterans’ related programs.

Our participation in support of our “doughboys” became the bedrock of our ongoing support for Veterans that extends to this day.

 “So long as there are Veterans, the Elks shall be there to support them”

Today, our Lodges participate in both national and local veterans programs.

These include Army of Hope, Adopt a Veteran, Leather for Veterans & Wounded Warrior Programs

The Seattle Elks & Seattle Veterans Hospital
Our association with the Seattle Veterans Hospital has existed from the inception of the Hospital. Several of our members donate time through the Volunteer Office on a weekly basis. Our traveling members collect unused soaps, shampoos and colognes from their Hotel stays and bring them to the Seattle Elks.

We collect playing cards from our local Native Casinos to re-distribute to the VA Hospital as well. Ambulatory patients and out patients from the Seattle VA are regularly invited to the Seattle Elks Lodge for functions. We have also donated and maintain Nintendo Wii systems at the VA Hospital for our Veterans enjoyment.