Veterans Activities

Tampa Elks Lodge has two distinct Veterans

 committees. We have the Elks National Veterans Service Commission (ENVSC), which is a Grand Lodge Program, and we have our Tampa Lodge Veterans Committee.

The ENVSC consists of a VA Representative and up to three Deputies who work exclusively with the James A Haley Veterans' Hospital. They have funding from Grand Lodge, and report to the Grand Lodge and the Voluntary Services Department for for the VA. Members of Tampa Lodge are often asked to help them with their duties, by going out to the James A Haley Veterans' Hospital in Temple Terrace to serve refreshments, call back bingo, distribute small gifts, or other light duties when supervised by the ENVSC appointee.

The Lodge Veterans Committee is active. New members are always welcomed to the committee. Just show up at a meeting, currently on the second Monday of the month at 6:30pm. The committee is working with several different groups of Veterans that are in transitional housing.

The VA Domiciliary – This is an outreach program of the VA.  The domiciliary houses up to 32 homeless male and female veterans.

Liberty Manor for Veterans - Liberty Manor is a private charity run almost exclusively on donations. The intake building is a boarding house structure that can house 16, but sometimes is overfilled.

New Beginnings for Veterans – This is a rehab facility, also helping non-Veterans, which usually has 30 beds reserved for Veterans. The Veterans are able to join us for Veteran-only events.

Salvation Army - The Tampa Heights SA facility also has about 30 Veterans at any given time. This is a new group, and the committee is still feeling their way with them. Hopefully we can make a difference in their lives.

One of the most visible Lodge Veterans Committee activities is inviting transitioning Veterans to come to the Lodge for dinner or special events. Socialization skills are an important part of the training for reintegration into society, and socializing is something for which the Elks are particularly qualified. When you see a group of Veterans in the dining room, stop by the table and introduce yourself. You may make a new friend.

The Veterans Committee raises funds to pay for those dinners or event tickets, and your support when there are Veteran Committee fundraisers is appreciated. They usually have about two fundraisers a year. Donations are always welcomed. You may also just offer to pay for a meal or buy an extra event ticket for a Veteran. Every little bit helps the Lodge Committee to do more. Less visible are the weekend events. These are funded by a grant we receive from the Elks National Foundation. The Lodge Committee has treated Veterans to picnics, gone fishing, participated in Wreaths Across America, and had an excursion on the Tampa Fun Boat in 2022. Each weekend activity includes a meal, so it’s crucial to get that extra funding.

As Covid restrictions at the James A Haley Veterans' Hospital decrease, there should be additional opportunities to serve the hospitalized Veterans. Before the pandemic, we would have a bus from the Veterans' Hospital bring inpatients to the Lodge one Friday a month. Committee members would volunteer as servers and would also make or bake dessert for the Veterans.

Watch for more developments in your Elksize newsletter.