Summit Elks Lodge Organization of the Year
During the annual Suburban Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner held in October, Summit NJ Elks Lodge #1246 was presented with the Organization of the Year Award.
Covering the 3 town area of Summit, New Providence, and Berkeley Heights NJ, the award recognizes an organization which has consistently performed services within the community for at least five years, and has achieved or carried out one or more outstanding events or projects during the previous year.
Summit Elks Lodge #1246 is a chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks of the United States and was chartered in 1911. The Summit Elks Lodge has donated millions of dollars and countless community volunteer hours supporting local and national charities.
Each year, the Summit Elks supports families with special needs children to attend Camp Moore – the N.J. State Elks Special Project, for children with physical and developmental challenges. The Summit Lodge also sponsors events for local children including an annual holiday party, Flag Day celebration, and the annual Hoop Shoot and Soccer Shoot contests which provide young athletes the opportunity to compete for local, state and national prizes.
The Summit Elks supports first responders in the area, for example recently funding bullet-proof vests for several local police departments and helping fund the living and recreational quarters at the new Summit firehouse. Drug awareness is an area the Summit Elks works to promote education and also Scholarship is a focal point where the Summit Elks provide college scholarships for area residents to include supplemental room and board for young men and women under ROTC contract.
Elks have a special commitment to veterans, and have pledged, “As long as there are veterans, the Elks will never forget them.” Summit Elks have been heavily involved with promoting awareness of and helping homeless veterans, raising funds for, and contributing to providing needed furnishings for homeless veterans when they move into a home. Elks members visit veterans, host an annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Lyons VA Center and organize a coat drive for homeless vets.
The Lindsey Street Post of the American Legion calls the Summit Lodge on Maple Street its home as well, and local Elks partnered with Legion members to fund and erect the new memorial monuments on Summit’s Village Green to honor those from the city who gave their lives protecting our freedom, and a monument to honor two Medal of Honor recipients from World War I who called Summit home.
Please visit summitelks1246.org for more information about the Summit Elks and how to join.
