Our Charitable Work
Lodge #2165 is committed to making a difference in West Orange County through hands-on service, grants, and partnerships with local and statewide organizations.
Winter Garden Elks Lodge #2165Every Elks lodge lives by four cardinal virtues: Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity. At Lodge #2165, charity isn’t just a word on a banner — it’s the work our members do every week. From motorcycle rides that raise thousands for veterans to book drives for local kids, here’s how our lodge gives back to the community.
Veterans Services & Elks Riders
Our lodge’s Elks Riders chapter organizes charity motorcycle rides throughout the year to raise funds for veteran causes. In one of their most impactful efforts, the Winter Garden Elks Riders raised $4,000 for Challenge 22, an organization working to end veteran suicide — a cause that hits close to home for many of our members.
Beyond the rides, lodge volunteers participate in Welcome Home Kit deliveries for veterans transitioning to stable housing, supply drives for VA care facilities, and events that bring fellowship and recognition to the men and women who served. The lodge applies for Freedom Grants through the Elks National Veterans Service Commission to fund these projects each year.
🇺🇸 “So long as there are veterans, the Elks will never forget them.”Children’s Literacy & Youth Programs
Lodge #2165 partnered with the Orange Observer’s Reading Reindeer literacy program, running a book collection drive from November through December. Members donated approximately 50 new books targeted at the 12–17 age group, and the lodge and Ladies Auxiliary each contributed $200 in additional support.
The lodge also sponsors local children to attend the Florida Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla — a 405-acre residential camp that gives kids ages 9–13 a week of outdoor adventure, team building, and character development with no electronics. Many of the children we sponsor would not otherwise be able to attend.
Our members support the Elks Hoop Shoot free-throw contest, the Drug Awareness essay and poster competitions, and the Americanism Essay Contest — all programs that encourage young people to develop healthy habits, competitive spirit, and patriotic values.
🌳 Serving West Orange County kids through literacy, camp, and competitionHomeless & Hunger Relief
Using its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant, Lodge #2165 purchased jeans, shirts, socks, jackets, tents, sleeping bags, and flashlights for Matthews Hope — a homeless ministry serving individuals and families in West Orange County. These supplies go directly to people living without shelter in our community.
The lodge continues to apply for Beacon, Gratitude, and Spotlight Grants each year to fund projects that address food insecurity, homelessness, and other urgent needs in the Winter Garden area. These ENF grants must serve populations in need and are one of the most impactful tools our lodge has for direct community relief.
💰 Funded through Elks National Foundation community grantsScholarships & Education
Lodge #2165 supports scholarship programs at both the state and national level. Through the Florida State Elks Association, graduating high school seniors and currently enrolled college students can apply for scholarships of up to $5,000 per year. Nationally, the Elks National Foundation awards more than $3 million in college scholarships annually to service-minded students across the country.
Locally, our lodge raises scholarship funds through bingo nights, raffles, and direct member donations. We believe every deserving student in West Orange County should have the opportunity to pursue higher education, regardless of their family’s financial situation.
📚 Up to $5,000/year • High school through collegeHarry-Anna Trust Fund
Our members contribute to the Harry-Anna Trust Fund, the endowment that has financed the Florida Elks’ two flagship charitable programs since 1951. The trust was named after Harry and Anna Miller, who donated land and a building to establish the original Florida Elks Hospital for Crippled Children. Today, income from the trust funds both the Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services and the Florida Elks Youth Camp.
Lodge #2165 raises money for the trust through fundraising events, talent shows, raffles, and direct donations. Every dollar contributed helps ensure that children across Florida have access to free in-home therapy and life-changing camp experiences.
🛡 Restricted endowment • Only income is used • Established 1951Statewide Programs We Support
In addition to our local efforts, every donation and volunteer hour from Lodge #2165 feeds into the larger charitable engine of the Florida State Elks Association and its five corporations. These statewide programs extend our reach far beyond West Orange County.