Elks Lodge, Weiser Fire District deliver food boxes to area residents

This past Saturday, the Weiser Elks Lodge distributed food boxes to area families who need a helpful hand during the Christmas season.

 With Christmas not even a week away, many families are thankful to receive food staples that they might not otherwise have.

 About 25 Elks volunteers spent time on Friday filling the boxes and Weiser Fire District firefighters handled the bulk of deliveries the following Saturday, according to organizer Rebecca Hale who has led the food box distribution effort the last three years.

 “They were amazing,” she said of Weiser’s firefighters who delivered the boxes in fire department trucks. “In total, we distributed boxes to about 50 households in and around Weiser, including one in Council. The current count is 174 people in 46 households.”

 Hale said four boxes were also delivered to ROSE Advocates on Monday, which distributed them to clients in need. ROSE Advocates is a confidential network offering resources to abused children and adults. The names of people who received boxes came from WICAP (Western Idaho Community Action Partnership), the Weiser Activity Center for Seniors, Love INC, and ROSE Advocates, as well as referrals from Elks Lodge members.

“In addition to the food boxes, each household got a $10 gift card to Ridley’s,” said Hale whose sisters Deb Jenkins and Lori Hale are instrumental in organizational efforts.

“A lot of folks, especially now, are struggling and the beauty of a community like ours is that we know each other, and we know when someone needs a little help,” she said in early December. “To be able to help each other and take care of the members of our community, well, it’s what the Elks organization does and it’s something that makes us feel good about being a part of a community like Weiser.” She added that Steve’s Hometown Motors has been key in its support of the annual event.

“[They] have been extremely generous in supporting this effort and we really couldn’t do it without their generosity,” Hale said. “It’s really fantastic because it means there is just that much more we are able to purchase to help out with this project. As for the Elks, we spend lodge money to purchase the different food items that we provide.”

The annual Elks Santa Present Giveaway was held on Friday, Dec. 15 at the Elks Lodge where Santa visited with area kids age 0-17. Each child was given the opportunity to visit with Santa and received an early Christmas present.