ELKS PROVIDED CHRISTMAS TO THOUSANDS OF 
MILITARY FAMILIES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA

 The Rancho Cordova Elks Lodge “Catch The Spirit” Project was established to provide assistance to military families in need throughout the Northern California area. It also provides assistance to families of “At-Risk Youth” in the local community. During the December Christmas holiday season, the project provided “Christmas Baskets” to 1,642 National Guard and U.S. Army, Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard families throughout Northern and Central California. The project also provided 100 additional “Baskets” to the Rancho Cordova Police Department to deliver to families of “At-Risk Youth”.

 Each family received a turkey or a ham; three huge boxes filled with crackers, cookies, nuts, juice, soups, fruit, canned goods, stuffing, rice, boxed meals, bread and pastries; a case of Prego spaghetti sauce, and a case of sodas. Overall, 11,494 boxes were delivered, including 400 toys and 40 Christmas trees. Additionally, a complete Christmas dinner was provided to 350 U.S. Army Reserve personnel of the 319^th Signal Battalion and their families.

 This was a real community effort. Troops and families from the National Guard and Reserve units put in a large amount of off-duty time to pack and assemble the “Baskets” so that others could have a nice Christmas. Other members of the community helping the Elks in the effort were the local California Conservation Corps, the local chapter of the American Red Cross, the Rancho Cordova 4-H Club, the Navy Sea Cadets, the National Guard Explorer Scouts and the Rancho Cordova Police Department. Vehicle and air support from the Guard and Reserve Commands, and the generous donations from the various businesses and food suppliers also contributed to the success of the project, along with the donation of warehouse space by Buzz Oates, and an Impact Grant from the Elks National Foundation.  The Army Guard and Reserves and the Marine Reserves provided over 50 military vehicles to move the provisions, and the Air National Guard provided a C-130 to deliver “Baskets” to Los Alamedas and San Diego for families of the 40^th Infantry Division.(Article by PER Al Russell, and photo by PER Neil Bodine). 

Photo: From l to r: Rancho Cordova Elks “Catch The Spirit” Project Manager Bob Burns Jr., Bob’s service dog “Caesar” and California Army National Guard Double Deuce Transportation Battalion E-7 Sgt Carl Adams organizing the “Christmas Basket” deliveries. (Photo by Neil Bodine)