Hickory – Hickory Elks Lodge #1654 recently donated $2500 to the Catawba County Backpack Program.
This particularly important community program serves our children from elementary school to high school by supplying a backpack full of healthy food each weekend throughout the school year. Currently, with the 
COVID-19 crisis this program is needed more than ever. With the schools closed, children are even more at risk for hunger. The Program continues to serve the current need with pick up points for the food at schools and home deliveries. The Backpack Program relies on donations from local individuals, churches, businesses, and service organizations. Their sole mission is to remove hunger as a barrier to good education and reduce the impact of poverty on children and families. The Backpack Program is a program of The Corner Table Soup Kitchen.
Committee Chair Carole Anderson and President of the Hickory Elks, Gary Gantt presented the $2500 check to Backpack Program Coordinator, Amanda Freeland at the Backpack Warehouse on April 23, 2020. Amanda accepted the check on behalf of the program and she spoke about the program and how it had impacted her life as well as the children. “The Elks continue to be our largest donor to the program by surpassing each year what they did the year before. I look forward each year to being a part of this great organization in our community who truly does make a difference.” said Freeland.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that “Elks Care and Elks Share”.
To find out more information about The Hickory Elks Lodge or The Backpack Program please contact Committee Chair, Carole Anderson at [email protected] or 828-312-7476 or contact Amanda Freeland, Backpack Program Coordinator at [email protected].
