Moose Jaw Elks Lodge continue to support both locally

Moose Jaw Rotary Clubs continue to serve in pandemic era

Like every service club in the pandemic era, the Moose Jaw Elks Lodge are finding ways to raise funds and continue to support their many causes in the community. And like every club, they’re doing so despite having few events to rely on. Recently, one of their main events has been a weekly meat draw and 50/50 draw at the Moose Jaw Legion Lounge, which has helped keep the coffers full for their many commitments. If things do open up in the summer months and things start happening, you’ll see lots of the purple crew around the city. Among their many regular activities include their concession stands at Park Art during the Canada Day weekend and the massive Show and Shine out at 15 Wing, two events that bring plenty of cash to the group on an annual basis. And it all helps — the Elks donate around $20,000 a year to local organizations including the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank, Hunger in Moose Jaw, the Salvation Army Christmas Fund and many others. Their annual provincial lottery is also a huge event, with the 2021 Truck and Bucks Lottery once again looking to raise money for the Saskatchewan Pediatric Auditory Rehab Centre, or SPARC. You can find more info and buy tickets at trucksandbucks.ca.

The Moose Jaw Elks Lodge serving up deliciousness at one of their pancake breakfasts.

The Rotary Club of Moose Jaw Wakamow held their annual Christmas tree fundraiser this past winter.

For more information on the Moose Jaw Elks Lodge #7, visit their website at www.moosejawelks.com, their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MooseJawElksLodge, send them an e-mail at elkslodge7@ sasktel.net or by giving them a shout at (306) 6927474. To make a direct donation to the club, you can send a cheque to 325 Fourth Avenue Southwest, Box 315.

It’s been more than a year of pandemic-related difficulty for the Rotary Club of Moose Jaw and Rotary Club of Moose Jaw Wakamow, but both organizations have continued to find a way to serve their communities and go beyond. For the Rotary Club of Moose Jaw, it’s been a full year of ‘wait, see and hope’ while still finding a way to continue to fulfill their commitments. They’ve held their regular meetings — even gathering in person with social distancing when they could — and continued to conduct business even with a lack of available fundraising activities. That includes their annual scholarships, three of which will be given to local students headed for university next year. They’re looking forward to hopefully seeing the pancake breakfast at the Moose Jawg and annual Christmas Carol Festival return this year, although both remain up in the air. The Rotary Club of Moose Jaw Wakamow has continued to hold meetings every two weeks through the Zoom meeting app while finding themselves in much the same situation as their counterparts. They did have some fundraising success this year, though, with their Rotary Christmas Tree Stand completely selling out of trees and their work with the Downtown Patio bringing in $3,000 from the Moose Jaw Chamber of Commerce.

Even with today’s climate, both organizations are looking to brighter days ahead while seeking new members and fuller coffers. For more information on the Rotary Club of Moose Jaw, visit their website at portal.clubrunner.ca/1005 and for the Rotary Club of Moose Jaw Wakamow, visit portal.clubrunner.ca/997 and check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mjwakamowrotary.