Weiser Elk’s Lodge prepares 50 food boxes for area families

Seasonal blues are a commonly experienced feeling, and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a particularly dreary winter. This holiday season, the Weiser community has worked to spread cheer with both new events like a Christmas Cruze and beloved annual traditions. 

 The Weiser Elk’s Lodge has organized their annual Christmas basket program to deliver to families and individuals around the community.

From toiletries to potatoes, each basket is filled with a variety of items from household goods and foods said Weiser Elk’s elected leader Cale Harvey. 

 Approximately 40 to 60 families are served, with approximately 150 baskets prepared and delivered. Elk’s Lodge members volunteered their time on Friday morning to pack each basket and deliver to families the next day. As per tradition the Weiser City Fire Department joined the Elk’s members in the delivery process on Saturday morning. “[The fire department] brings their engine and…deliver a whole bunch,” said Harvey. “Then our members deliver the rest.”

 The basket program is primarily done for Christmas, said Harvey. Each basket is dispersed based on household size. A household of one may receive a single basket while a large family may receive up to five baskets. Each basket can include dish washer detergent, rice, potatoes, onions, and more as well as a $10 gift certificate to Ridley’s Family Market. 

 When signing up for a basket, names and addresses are asked for. The number of children in the household is asked for as well as clothing sizes. The Midvale based Grannies Jammies handmakes warm, wool pajamas for the children in each household.

 “Last year, one of the guys told me he delivered to a family…” said Harvey. “They were just ecstatic because they didn’t really know where they were going to get their next meal.”

 The program is ran partially on donations and partially on Elk’s funds designated for the baskets, said Harvey. The Lady Elk’s usually purchase items such as toothpaste and dish washer detergent. There is always a fair amount of donations from the community from both residents and local companies and businesses. Donations from the community have ranged from potatoes to canned food as well as turkeys. Harvey has been involved in the organization of the baskets for the past four years and said all donations are welcome.

 The Weiser Elk’s Lodge received their charter in May of 1945. For the past 70 years, the organization has worked to help veterans, the community, and children in the area. Referring to it as the Elk’s “calling,” Harvey said the organization is here to help. The baskets were assembled by a group of Elk’s Lodge members as well as community volunteers. The city fire department generally delivers 2/3 of the baskets and Elk’s Lodge members deliver the remaining baskets. The baskets are completely free to receivers. Baskets are primarily delivered, however individuals and families are also able to pick up if preferred. While it is preferred to 

 “We think that…we’ve probably donated as much as $2 million to the Weiser community since ’45,” said Harvey. “We do a lot of stuff that I don’t know is noticed much.”