NEWS
News from the Maine Elks AssociationAssociation Honors Old Glory
On Sunday, June 14th, President Dwayne "Kip" Clark and the officers and members of the Maine Elks Association conducted the order's Flag Day ceremony at Kip's home lodge in Farmington.
Kip thanks everyone who joined and attended the service, especially PDD Scott Gray for his assistance in coordinating the event.
Portland Basket Raffle Benefits 3 Area Non-Profits
Portland Lodge 188 held its annual Basket Raffle Extravaganza in May, with proceeds going to benefit three local non-profit organizations. After the final tally, on June 10th checks were presented to Milestone Recovery ($1,900), Intercultural Community Center ($1,900) and the St Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen ($1,000 and 40lbs of coffee for their coffee closet).
Pictured l-r: Elk member Sue Briggs, Harrison Otterbein, President St Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen, ER Joe Winschel, Elk member Margaret Poulin, Emily Loder, Youth Program Director, ICC, Nate Palmer, ICC Ameria Corp Volunteer, Alisa Gibson, Director Mission Advancement, Milestone Recovery, Elk member Patty Amico, Activity Chair, Kim Toppi.
The Basket Raffle Extravaganza is put on by the Activity Committee and supported by the members of Lodge 188 who generously donate gift baskets, buy raffle tickets, work in the kitchen and volunteer for the two-day event.
Elkdom Feeding the Unhoused
With funds from the Spotlight Grant, the Portland Lodge Activity Committee has committed to help serve some of the unhoused population in the greater Portland area. A team of three to four volunteers will shop, cook and serve one Saturday a month in Portland’s Deering Oaks, teaming up with another group that serves lunch every 
Saturday. The goal is to provide this service until December. Julie Morin, Pamela Dill, Pam Charles and Kim Toppi served homemade pizza, brownies, and cookies to approximately 60 men and women on May 23. The next date our Lodge will be at the Oaks is June 13.
Betti Curran, who has been doing this at the Oaks for six years, was overjoyed when the Portland Lodge contacted her and asked to help out. She posts on her FB page every Saturday about the days experience and was most grateful to the Elks in her post.
After her post and mention of Portland Lodge, she has received another call from another group also wanting to join in to help out. As she told Kim, “look what you’ve started!” Just another fine example of Elks serving our community.
Portland Again Hosts Summit Project
May 23, 2026: Today the Portland Elks Lodge hosted The Summit Project riders. 
TSP stones and stories have been shared on Katahdin, Cadillac, Kilimanjaro, Everest, Denali and been carried through parades, marathons and marches all across Maine. For Portland’s annually sponsored event the riders each carry a stone, engraved with a fallen heroes name on it, to Mt Katahdin where a living memorial is being built.
Accompanied by Maine State Troopers, the riders begin their journey after a light breakfast is provided at the Lodge. Ladder trucks from the Portland and South Portland Fire Departments rise the flag for riders to pass through as they begin their journey.
It’s a very moving tribute and many volunteers from the Lodge were on hand today to thank the riders as they left our parking lot.
Many thanks to Martha Binette for coordinating this every year and to the Portland Team, and to all the Elks who helped out. It’s a proud day to be an Elk.
First Lady Joleen’s Year-End Wrap-up
I had the honor, along with Corey DeWitt and Michaela DeWitt, to present a donation of $13,701.75 to The Center for Grieving Children, Maine. This was made possible through my raffle and the memberships’ generous donations throughout Corey’s year as President of the Maine Elks Maine Elks Association from May 2025 to May 2026.
L-R: Danielle from the Center, Michaela DeWitt, Joleen DeWitt & PSP Corey DeWitt.
I want to thank the members of the Maine Elks, family and friends for their generosity. The Center For Grieving Children holds a special place in my heart. Michaela and I went to the Portland location after the death of our oldest daughter, Courtney. A bit later I became a facilitator for some time at the Sanford location.
The Center helps families throughout Maine at both locations and remotely through Teams.
Thank you all so very much,
Joleen DeWitt
MEA First Lady, 2025-26