Ferndale Elks Reaches $7 Million Mark In Giving Since Opening in 1931
(Elizabeth Schanz, June 25, 2023)
Ferndale, MI – Ferndale Elks Lodge #1588, a philanthropic social club, has donated over 7 million dollars since it founded the Ferndale location in 1931. The money the Ferndale Elks raise comes from fundraising by members and goes to local, national and international charitable efforts.
The Ferndale Elks Lodge provides a place for members to come together to engage with the community and one another. The Elks want to continue to have a positive impact as they have had over the last 92 years and hope to reach more people with their work.
Joshua Gartner the leading knight and head of public relations for Ferndale Elks Lodge has been a member of the organization for ten years. Gartner said the Ferndale Elks opens opportunities for people to make a difference. He said donations and service opportunities can be catered to individual interests.
Recently, one member of the Ferndale Elks advocated for the organization to provide aid to Ukrainian refugees. The member has family members in Poland who took in many refugees and saw the need for different resources. This led to the Ferndale Elks raising money for clothes and day-to-day items that they sent to the Ukrainian families.
Additionally, the Ferndale Elks consistently aims to create charitable efforts where they can see an impact “in the community.” Gartner said the organization creates college scholarship funds, raised money for a handicap-accessible swing in a Ferndale park, and is currently raising money to rebuild Memorial Mall.
“We’re so widespread with what we do,” Gartner said. “Anybody can find a piece of [themselves in] that volunteering or that donation, fundraising. They can find some interest within there.”
Gartner says Ferndale Elks is not a “narrow-view organization” and is open to new service opportunities. He is looking forward to expanding the work of the Ferndale Elks.
Gartner said the organization has created new efforts for Mental Health Awareness Month during May and it hoping the work will carry on year to year.
“It’s in its infancy this year but we can see it getting larger and larger as time goes on,” Gartner said. “It’s seeing the newer things that we’re branching into and that I’m excited about.”
In addition to the growing opportunities for volunteer and fundraising, Gartner said the Ferndale Elks organization itself has seen many changes over the past ten years.
“We are one of the fastest growing Elks Lodges in the country. We are also one of the youngest in median age,” Gartner said. “Our demographics reflect the city of Ferndale. It’s a younger city, it’s a vibrant city, and I think the Ferndale Elks over the past ten to twenty years has really been a reflection of that.”
Ferndale Elks Members feel the organization provides a sense of comradery and encourages people who are interested to become a part of the club. There’s a lot of volunteering too. From boxing up holiday baskets to delivering needed items to veterans, over the past year there has also been 11,576 hours of volunteering, with each member averaging about three hours of community service.
“It feels more like a second home than a social club. It’s a very comfortable situation for everyone to come into,” said Steven Laurain, the Membership Chairperson for the Ferndale Elks.
The Ferndale Elks are having membership mixers in June. These mixers encourage new members to bring friends to meet long-term members to create new connections within the organization.
While some mixer events are more formally arranged, Gartner said the Elks are open to any person who wants to be involved.
“I love the come ‘as you are’ aspect of the Elks. It doesn’t matter who you are, you are always welcome into our organization,” Gartner said.
Ferndale Elks Lodge #1588 is located at 22856 Woodward Avenue in Downtown Ferndale.
Learn more at https://www.elks1588.com/.
