Senior centers get boost from Elks

The Clark Fork Valley Elks (CFVE) have donated funding they received from a grant to senior centers around Sanders County. Every year CFVE members apply for different grants that will help lend aid to the local community. The Gratitude Grant from Elks National Foundation (ENF) and according to grant coordinator Christine Munday, is used to support local charitable activities. “We felt that the senior centers are such an important part of the community,” Munday said of the reason why they chose who to donate to. The five senior centers in Sanders County who CFVE will be donating to are Thompson Falls, Trout Creek, Noxon, Dixon and the center for Plains and Paradise.

The first stop Munday made was a visit to the senior center in Thompson Falls on Wednesday afternoon. Munday presented a $500 check to the center’s board president, Nancy Gressang. While Gressang says the board has yet to make a plan for the donated funds, she says it is a welcomed surprise and the money will be put toward a good use as services start to pick up again from the aftermath of COVID-19.

With bingo on Tuesdays, pinochle every Sunday and dine-in and take out meal options every Monday and Thursday, there’s no shortage of what the Thompson Falls Senior Center doesn’t offer. Their community involvement was what made the decision an easy one for CFVE to distribute grant money not only to the Thompson Falls location, but the other senior centers as well. While COVID-19 has limited Elks members from interacting with the community and partaking in local projects, being able to present a check, in person, served as a light at the end of a very long tunnel.

Alongside the center’s community involvement, Gressang says they are working on being able to offer different computer classes, not just for seniors, but to anyone who is interested, as she says the center wants to cater to all ages. “There isn’t an age limit and there isn’t a limit to who can come in,” Gressang stated. “We have visitors from the high school and we love seeing the little children coming. We are very family oriented here.” Munday added in, “that’s exactly what we are here to support.”

For more information on upcoming CFVE charitable events, contact the lodge at 827-7770.