Arlington-Fairfax Elks Support USO at Reagan National Airport and Ft Myer

The cold, snowy weather from end of January into February meant delayed or cancelled flights at the airport. This means our lodge’s delivery of hearty, frozen food to the USO at Reagan National Airport and Ft Myer USO (Joint Base Myer/Henderson Hall) were very much appreciated. The Reagan Airport USO visitors had food and snacks to help make their flight experience just a little better. At Ft Myer, the soldiers visiting the USO facility had a chance to get a frozen pizza or a breakfast sandwich, etc. that they could easily microwave for a hot snack/meal while visiting fellow soldiers, playing video games or just enjoying some quiet time. And while making these food deliveries, our Elks volunteers enjoyed meeting another visitor to the Ft Myer USO - a golden doodle named Tilly. Tilly proved to be not only a beautiful, friendly dog but also a natural for pictures. 

In February, our Lodge also provided support for a Veteran family - a single father with 4 daughters, who recently found housing with the help of the Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA). Then with funding from the Focus Grant and additional Grand Lodge funding, our Lodge provided furniture and household items to help furnish their new home. This program is a partnership between the VA and the Elks. The VA finds the homeless veteran housing and the local Elks Lodge provides the furnishings/household goods to truly make it a home.