Each year Elks lodges across the United States collect deer hides for use in Veterans Homes for physical rehabilitation programs for the residents. The hides are collected by local lodges, salted, packaged and then delivered to tanneries for processing. The hides are distributed to veterans homes across the United States for crafts projects made by the residents.
In addition, several thousand pair(s) of commercially manufactured gloves are made and delivered to wheelchair bound veterans free of cost.
The Iowa Elks Association has been either first or second in the number of hides collected nationally for the past several years. Jefferson Elks lodge is proud to be one of the many lodges participating in this program. They ask area hunters to help maintain that position by donating deer hides to the veteran’s program.
For information or to donate hides, please contact one of the following Elk members: Jefferson area, Les Fister 515-370-3724 or 386-8248, or John Schoening 515-370-0965 or 386-4191; Yale area, Jack Hunter 641-757-0652; or Scranton area, Randy Winkelman 860-705-1375 or 712-652-3464. ~The Scranton Journal
