NEWS
News from the Maine Elks AssociationMaine Hoop Shoot Program in the News
The County, January 12th
The County, January 25th
Farmington to Host Cribbage Tourney
Elks’ Support in the Portland Community
Shortly before Christmas, members of the Veteran Committee of Portland Lodge 188 delivered gifts donated by our Lodge members, for five children from three different families. Although it was short notice, each child received clothing, coats, and at least one fun item. The gifts were delivered to our contact, who then distributed them to the families on Sunday, December 14.
Gifts were also delivered to the Scarborough Veterans Home. We had four specific names, along with a special request for various sizes of men’s pajamas and men’s sweatpants. In total, we were able to provide close to 80 much-needed items. And the four Veterans received their special requested items.
During this season of giving, our Lodge members, once again, came through to help those less fortunate in our community, and remembered our Veterans. Thank you!
Upon delivery, we were greeted by two Veterans, Pop (in orange) and Dan, who helped get the gifts to the Activities Director. JoAnn Sparks and April Libby from Lodge 188 delivered the gifts.
from North School (l-r): Edil, Jean, Janine, Heather.
Then, on December 26, using a $2,000 donation from the lodge member volunteers assembled 100 bags containing beef stew, spam, potatoes, pasta, tomato sauce and a $10 gift card to either Hannaford or Wal-Mart.
On December 28 and 29 the bags were delivered by members to Spring Crossing Senior Housing in Westbrook (34 units) and North School Apartments (60 units, + 2 children) in Portland.
The gift bags were an overwhelming success. A resident at North School, (also a member of lodge 188) told us that “this was the first time anyone has ever done anything for our building, and folks are going to be so surprised.” It was a very positive way to end the year!!
December’s Winning Calendars
| Dec | Ticket # | Amount | Name | Lodge | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 837 | $25.00 | Gary Raindon | 188 | ||
| 2 | 943 | $25.00 | Gretel Anderson | 1008 | ||
| 3 | 1566 | $25.00 | Amanda Lema | 1470 | ||
| 4 | 650 | $25.00 | Reece Ivey | 835 | ||
| 5 | 377 | $25.00 | Kyle Charette | 1597 | ||
| 6 | 1432 | $50.00 | Tyke McKay | 244 | ||
| 7 | 1461 | $50.00 | Brook Green | 244 | ||
| 8 | 1633 | $25.00 | Rosalie Barker | 244 | ||
| 9 | 1452 | $25.00 | Adrian Labrecque | 244 | ||
| 10 | 91 | $25.00 | Lynda Sperry | 2743 | ||
| 11 | 1014 | $25.00 | Marie Laplante | 1470 | ||
| 12 | 996 | $25.00 | Janice Bachelder | 1470 | ||
| 13 | 333 | $50.00 | Gloria D'Amico | 1597 | ||
| 14 | 22 | $50.00 | Jeff Buzzell | 2743 | ||
| 15 | 348 | $25.00 | Denise D'Entremont | 1597 | ||
| 16 | 219 | $25.00 | Cindy Marsters | 244 | ||
| 17 | 324 | $25.00 | Jennifer Campbell | 934 | ||
| 18 | 249 | $25.00 | Pam Spofford | 244 | ||
| 19 | 262 | $25.00 | Sara Turner | 244 | ||
| 20 | 644 | $50.00 | Roger Graham | 835 | ||
| 21 | 248 | $500.00 | Ray Bendure | 244 | ||
| 22 | 80 | $25.00 | Elizabeth Gordon | 2743 | ||
| 23 | 29 | $25.00 | Rhonda Boynton | 2743 | ||
| 24 | 1157 | $25.00 | Lana Ryan | 905 | ||
| 25 | 1421 | $25.00 | Jackie Jones | 244 | ||
| 26 | 73 | $25.00 | Lewis Gordon | 2743 | ||
| 27 | 584 | $50.00 | Wendy Barnies | 1293 | ||
| 28 | 497 | $50.00 | Muriel Neil | 2430 | ||
| 29 | 130 | $25.00 | Dave Anderson | 964 | ||
| 30 | 1454 | $25.00 | Emilien Bouchard | 244 | ||
| 31 | 1405 | $25.00 | Adam Freeman | 244 | ||
Rose Parade Recognition for BPOE
Elks Bring Thanksgiving to Their Neighbors
Since 2020, Farmington Elks Lodge #2430, with financial support from the Masons, has provided Thanksgiving dinner to Franklin County seniors and low-income households free of charge. This year more than 460 meals were prepared and delivered!
Residents sign up through their housing coordinators, local signup sheets, or referrals from social workers and medical professionals.
The Farmington lodge partners with the Augusta Valley of Scottish Rite Masons, who had previously provided this annual meal at the Mount Blue High School cafeteria until its closure during the COVID pandemic in 2020.
Holiday Message from President Corey
Lodge 188 Supports Foster Kids
Portland Lodge #188 used their $2,000 Spotlight Grant to support Adoptive & Foster Families of Maine buy filling 100 backpacks for children entering the foster care system. Known nationwide as Comfort Cases, these backpacks are filled with essentials, based on age, as to what a child may need to provide them some comfort, dignity, and pride in having their belongings in a new backpack and not a trash bag when they are taken from their home and placed in the foster care system.
FRONT L-R: Patty Amico, Jeanette Conley, Gale Murphy
BACK: L-R: Colleen Hilton, Margaret Poulin, Beth Gilboy from Adoptive & Foster Families of Maine, Susan Smythe, ER Joe Winschel, Kim Toppi
The 100 backpacks were filled with ALL NEW pajamas, personal care items, a blanket, stuffed animal, socks, journals, and a book. We were able to fill each backpack with all of these supplies thanks to the generosity of our members who stepped up and made this project possible.
A representative from the agency was at the Portland Lodge on December 12 to accept the backpacks.
“Welcome Home” from the Augusta Elks
During the month of November, the Augusta Elks Lodge #964 Veterans Committee organized a Home Kit Supply Drive to honor November Veterans Remembrance Month.
The initiative aimed to gather essential supplies to support homeless veterans as they transition into new housing. Thanks to the remarkable generosity of our lodge members the drive was a great success!
Approximately 275 items were collected throughout the month, demonstrating the commitment of our Elk community to supporting veterans in need. The collected items will be used to put together Welcome Home kits for recently housed veterans, giving them much-needed essentials for use in their new homes.
ROCKY’s Travels Continue
The Maine Elks Association Roaming Elk Committee is pleased to report that on December 6, 2025, ten Brunswick Elks joined the Bath Elks lodge in enjoying Bath’s annual Jingle Jam event to deliver Christmas cheer to less fortunate neighbor families, as well as to help welcome MEA President Corey Dewitt and First Lady Joleen for their official visit to Bath. In the process the Brunswick members re-captured Rocky – once again. The Coastal District Trophy can now be captured from the Brunswick Elks Lodge #2043 at a future meeting or event.
As Brotherly Love is one of the four great principles of the Order, the Roaming Elk program was instituted in 2011 as a way for members to have fun traveling to another Lodge in their district to attend events or Lodge Meetings. For a Lodge to capture the trophy in their district, they must have five members of that Lodge travel to a Lodge that holds the Roaming Elk Trophy and attend an event at which they must participate or attend a Lodge meeting. They must remain at the Lodge for at least one hour to capture the trophy. If more than one Lodge attempts to capture the trophy at the same time, the Lodge that has the most members in attendance will take the trophy home. If the number of members is tied, then the Lodge that traveled the furthest will claim the trophy. For more information on the Roaming Elk Program, including the full set of rules, visit https://maineelks.org/roaming-elk/
(L -R) Reggie LeClair, Debbie Brooks, Dottie Contreras, Debbie Brooker, Craig Johnson (Bath), Rae Duval, MEA Prez Corey Dewitt, Dan Daigle, Alisha Barter, Emily Rollock, Mindy Wright, Pamela Wright