Not even the winter weather could stop the members of the Marshall Elks Lodge from hosting its regular fundraising dinner this week, with the aim of raising money to benefit local scholarships.
Marty Vaughn, the Elks Lodge National Foundation Chairperson, said that the event goes to serve not only the students of Marshall, but all across East Texas.
“We love having events like this; usually we can make hundreds of dollars each time, and everything for the Elks Lodge National Foundation raises goes to support the kids,” Vaughn said.
The event is a fundraiser dinner, cooked by Elks Lodge members, and consisting of pork loin stuffed with dirty rice with rolls, scalloped potatoes and green beans on the side.
The event was $12 per plate, and held at the Marshall Elks Lodge on Austin Street in Marshall.
“Everything the Elks National Foundation raises goes directly to scholarships,” Vaughn said, which benefits students all over the country. Last year alone the organization gave out past $399 million in scholarship funds.
This includes local students, with one Kilgore child going on to win $40,000 in scholarship funds after being sponsored by the Marshall Elks Lodge.
“He went to the first event and won, and then went on to the next competition and was able to double his money,” Vaughn said, “That was really something.”
This is the first of many events planned by the Elks Lodge for the new year, with members stating that they are gearing up for a big year.
More information on what the Elks Lodge has planned for 2024 can be found at https://www.facebook.com/marshallelks.lodge.