Veterans Activities
"So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them."
Tampa Elks Lodge has two distinct Veteran committees: the Veteran Affairs Veteran Service Commission (VAVCS), which is a Grand Lodge Program, and our Tampa Elks 708 Lodge Veterans committee.
The VAVCS consists of a VA Representative and up to three Deputies who work exclusively with the James A Haley VAMC. 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 VAMC in Temple Terrace to serve refreshments, call back bingo, distribute small gifts or other light duties when supervised by the VAVCS appointee.
The Tampa Elks 708 Lodge Veterans committee is active, meets every month to plan activities, and new members are always welcome to join! The meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 6:30pm in the banquet hall or Antler room. The committee is presently working with four different groups of veterans that are in transitional housing.
Tampa VA Domiciliary - An outreach program of the VA, the Domiciliary houses up to 32 homeless male and female veterans in their Tampa Heights facility.
Liberty Manor for Veterans - A private charity run almost exclusively on donations. Their Seminole Heights intake building is a boarding house structure that can house up to 16 veterans.
New Beginnings of Tampa - New Beginnings is a rehabilitation facility that also serves non-veterans, but usually has at least 30 beds reserved for veterans. Their veterans are able join us for veteran only events.
The Salvation Army - Their Tampa Heights facility offers shelter and rehabilitation services, and has about 30 Veterans at any given time.
One of the most visible Lodge committee activities is inviting transitioning veterans 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.
Tampa Elks Lodge has two distinct Veteran committees: the Veteran Affairs Veteran Service Commission (VAVCS), which is a Grand Lodge Program, and our Tampa Elks 708 Lodge Veterans committee.
The VAVCS consists of a VA Representative and up to three Deputies who work exclusively with the James A Haley VAMC. 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 VAMC in Temple Terrace to serve refreshments, call back bingo, distribute small gifts or other light duties when supervised by the VAVCS appointee.
The Tampa Elks 708 Lodge Veterans committee is active, meets every month to plan activities, and new members are always welcome to join! The meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 6:30pm in the banquet hall or Antler room. The committee is presently working with four different groups of veterans that are in transitional housing.
Tampa VA Domiciliary - An outreach program of the VA, the Domiciliary houses up to 32 homeless male and female veterans in their Tampa Heights facility.
Liberty Manor for Veterans - A private charity run almost exclusively on donations. Their Seminole Heights intake building is a boarding house structure that can house up to 16 veterans.
New Beginnings of Tampa - New Beginnings is a rehabilitation facility that also serves non-veterans, but usually has at least 30 beds reserved for veterans. Their veterans are able join us for veteran only events.
The Salvation Army - Their Tampa Heights facility offers shelter and rehabilitation services, and has about 30 Veterans at any given time.
One of the most visible Lodge committee activities is inviting transitioning veterans 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.