Supporting Our Community Through Grants

The Santa Monica Elks support our community through several programs. Many of these programs are funded through grants that are applied for through the Elks National Foundation Community Investments Program. 

Through the Gratitude Grant we are supporting the Breakfast Club in their efforts to provide dentistry for children in need of dental work, as well as workshops on dental hygiene. They also receive supplies to take home to continue what they have learned.

Through the Spotlight Grant our members provide a baby shower to support an organization called Harvest Home www.harvesthomela.org/ . This organization takes in homeless pregnant women and provides them the support they may need. Our elks attend the baby shower and donate items needed by the women Harvest Home serves as gifts and grant funds will be used as well. This supports the homeless and early childhood literacy.

Through the Beacon Grant the Santa Monica Elks will be purchasing nonperishable food items to donate to the Westside Food Bank www.wsfb.org/ . We will also be supporting a new organization called Nourish LA www.nourish.la/ . Nourish LA provides fresh foods to those in need as well as teaching them how to garden. Our Elks will be participating in a program called Fruity Fridays. They will be volunteering to help those in the community pick fruit from their own trees so that it does not rot and go to waste.

Through the Freedom Grant we will be providing veterans from the West Los Angeles VA a fishing trip on the Betty O. Elks will provide a lunch along with fellowship on the trip.

Through the Focus Grant and Impact Grant, the Santa Monica Elks will be purchasing small appliances, bedding, cleaning supplies and other items needed to help veterans transitioning into their own homes, as well as clothing and outerwear. We will also be providing bimonthly meals and quarterly food baskets to the West Los Angeles VA.

Our lodge hosts a variety of events for both our members and the community. Live music performances are held bi-monthly. Karaoke nights take place every Friday. Seasonal Garage Sales and Family Nights are organized quarterly. We host a special Christmas party for children in need. During the football season, games are broadcasted at the lodge. We conduct a Hoop Shoot Free-throw contest. Scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors. We support the Elk's Drug Awareness program and the Americanism program through essay writing, poster creation, and video production by our youth. No matter your interest, there's an activity for you!