Alameda Lodge 1015, with a grant from the Elks National Foundation (ENF), constructed a beautiful pergola for the Dignity Commons area on the point to give local Veterans in need. Elk-of-the-Year (EOY) Ken Carvahlo led an all-volunteer Elk crew that built the structure over a few days, amid a harrowing schedule that had to work around a few atmospheric rivers. At press time we await final inspections from the City of Alameda and a date to be set for an official dedication.

In conjunction with this project, our lodge is hosting a donation drive from March 1-31, 2024 to support Operation Dignity.

Operation Dignity provides shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services to help Veterans and their families escape the crisis of homelessness and regain stability. They operate 15 shelter beds and 91 transitional housing beds for veterans at three properties in Oakland, Alameda, and Berkeley. Veterans at all their sites work one-on-one with a case manager to help them create a self-sufficiency plan and secure permanent housing.

Dignity Commons is located on the formal Naval Air Base in Alameda. This location provides transitional and permanent housing to approximately 70 people on a given night, including single male and female veterans as well as families.

How can Elks help?

Elks can help Operation Dignity even more by donating any of the following items that can be brought to bins that will be stationed outside of the Mahogany Room between March 1-31.

• NEW Clothing, socks, underwear, T-shirts, New linens, sleeping bags, twin-size bedding, pillows, towels, mattress covers, board games and books, and new dish sets/cookware.
• HYGIENE KITS of toothbrushes, toothpaste, first aid supplies, lip balm, shaving cream, razors, hand sanitizer, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, combs/brushes, and masks.
• FOOD: Three daily meals are prepared at their 54-unit House of Dignity in Oakland and they distribute more than 1,000 snacks or lunches each month to unhoused people on the street. Bottled water, ready-to-eat meals, canned goods, packaged nuts and trail mixes, individually wrapped chips and crackers, protein bars/granola bars.
• GIFT CARDS (DO NOT PUT THESE IN THE BINS…THEY CAN BE DROPPED IN OUR MAIN OFFICE LOCKBOX) (for gas, groceries, clothing) in denominations of $5 – $25, Event tickets (movies, water parks), Transportation tickets (BART, AC Transit, Clipper).
• If you wish to donate money, contact Sam Moriana. If you wish to have a receipt for tax purposes for any of your donations, please let Sam know.