2025-2026 Community Activities
Veterans Fishing Trip
With funds supported by the SB Elks Veterans Committee ($4000 generated through Monday Night BBQ) and SB #613 and Lompoc #2274 combining their Freedom Grants ($2000) plus the SB #613 Spotlight Grant ($2000), 30 local Veterans had a day-long deep-sea fishing charter aboard the Stardust on a beautiful day out of the Santa Barbara Harbor. Everyone caught plenty of fish at the September 6th Veterans Fishing trip. Monies funded the boat charter, coffee and donuts before launch, as well as breakfast and lunch on board, any equipment or licenses, and fish processing to take dinner home. New friendships were formed, and everyone caught plenty of fish! Only one angler chummed. The Committee gives special thanks to members Linda Yeaw and David Lopez (Air Force, Ret) for organizing this event again. The Event was a huge success with only one snafoo which happened on land. Hank Goebel left his keys and fishing license in his car. If you know Hank, this is slightly funny, as him without a fishing license is like a fish out of water; he’s an avid fisherman. He will own ENF $50 in Beth DuVall's name as a thank you for bringing his spare keys back to The Landing.
Elks support the Transition House
Our approved program for the Gratitude Grant($3500) this year will help Transition House by preparing and serving a couple of dinners at their emergency shelter, as well as providing supplies needed by local families moving into temporary housing as they work their way out of homelessness. Keep an eye out for the dates we will be volunteering at Transition House and help us provide a warm meal and smiles to those who could use them.
Goleta Union School District Donation
Santa Barbara Lodge Member Paulette Le Blanc identified a grant offered by the City of Goleta. After Board approval to pursue the grant, Ms. LeBlanc researched, attended City meetings, and wrote a successful application that awarded the Goleta Union School District $5,000 in Goleta City Grant money. As part of the grant specifics, the Santa Barbara Elks #613 matched this grant with $2,500 in Elks Bingo charitable funds. These monies will be used to purchase culturally significant books and art supplies. During the check presentation, Kat Klein, GUSD Art Lead, expressed her gratitude and enthusiasm for our donations. In addition, one representative had received an Elks Scholarship herself, and two others had children participate in the Hoop Shoot and the Essay Contest! Our reach touches so many in the community. Pictured are Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte, representatives from the GUSD Administration, Board, Art and Library departments, Leading Knight Christine Johnston, Grant Writer Paulette Le Blanc, and Grant Chairman Beth DuVall PER.
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinic
The Elks National Foundation, Spotlight Grant ($2000) will go towards the purchase of fluoride and sealants for the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinic and their mobile dental van visits. For a few years now, Lodge Members have assisted at their visits to area schools with escorting students, scribing the dentists’ findings during the exams, and handing out dental packs as the children return to their classrooms. It’s a fun and meaningful way to support our community. Schedules will be posted over the next few months, and we can use 2-3 volunteers per school. Contact information will be included when sign-ups open. This is an important part of qualifying for grants, as ENF wants to see active member participation in our community.
Adopt-A-Highway
One Monday morning each month, a group of “highway men and women” take up positions along a stretch of Highway 154 in Santa Barbara. Their mission is not to waylay stagecoaches or travelers, however, but rather to keep the roadsides free of litter. This group is composed of volunteers from Santa Barbara Elks Lodge No. 613 participating in the Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway program. The Lodge is now in its 35th year of providing monthly trash and recyclable pick-up along the 2-mile stretch of Highway 154 it has “adopted,” running from the Calle Real intersection to the San Antonio Creek Bridge and including the on- and off-ramps at Foothill Road.
According to Caltrans, which established the Adopt-A-Highway Program in 1989, California is the 20th state in the nation to develop such a program. In addition to the aesthetic benefits of cleaner and more beautiful roadsides, participants help keep potential pollutants from entering our waterways. The program offers a valuable opportunity to foster civic responsibility and community pride.
The Adopt-A-Highway program has been one of the truly successful government-public partnerships of our time. Since its inception, Caltrans reports that a total of 176,000 participants have cleaned and enhanced more than 140,000 shoulder miles of roadside and saved taxpayers $265 million ($19 million annually).
Hoop Shoot
As our Lodge continues its tradition of community service, we are approaching one of our most impactful Youth events: the Elks National Hoop Shoot. This basketball free throw competition is a cornerstone of our youth programs, empowering kids aged 8-13 by offering them opportunities for skill development and even scholarships. The Hoop Shoot has been "unleashing gritty kids for over 50 years".
The 2025 Hoop Shoot event is scheduled for Sunday, December 14, 2025, at the Page Youth Center
Major Project
Mission Statement of CHEMPI
“The California-Hawaii Elks Major Project, Inc., (CHEMPI) a committee of the California-Hawaii Elks Association (CHEA), pledges its commitment to addressing the unmet needs of children with disabilities throughout the states of California and Hawaii by developing a program of supporting services to aid these children at no cost to the families and without discrimination.”
In 1950, CHEA created an organization within it to help children with disabilities. The fundraising arm of CHEMPI is the "Purple Pig". All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE! This unique program funds 32 paid therapists and preschool vision screeners, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, etc., hired by CHEMPI, to help disabled children when no other organizations can or will. These CHEMPI professional therapists and preschool vision screeners travel, sometimes great distances, to help children get the care they need.
As of September 2025 - $10,000.00 has been raised for the Major Project by SB Elks Lodge #613 through Auctions, Raffles, Purple Pigs, the Holiday Bazaar, 4th of July Fundraiser, etc.