Special delivery: Greenfield Elks Lodge distributes Christmas meals to families in need

Greenfield Elks Lodge members assembled and delivered 50 Christmas meal boxes to residents in need on Saturday morning.

Greenfield Elks Lodge members assembled and delivered 50 Christmas meal boxes to residents in need on Saturday morning. STAFF PHOTO/MADISON SCHOFIELD

Greenfield Elks Lodge members assembled and delivered 50 Christmas meal boxes to residents in need on Saturday morning.

Greenfield Elks Lodge members assembled and delivered 50 Christmas meal boxes to residents in need on Saturday morning. STAFF PHOTO/MADISON SCHOFIELD

Greenfield Elks Lodge members assembled and delivered 50 Christmas meal boxes to residents in need on Saturday morning.

Greenfield Elks Lodge members assembled and delivered 50 Christmas meal boxes to residents in need on Saturday morning. STAFF PHOTO/MADISON SCHOFIELD

Greenfield Elks Lodge members assembled and delivered 50 Christmas meal boxes to residents in need on Saturday morning.

Greenfield Elks Lodge members assembled and delivered 50 Christmas meal boxes to residents in need on Saturday morning. STAFF PHOTO/MADISON SCHOFIELD

Greenfield Elks Lodge members assembled and delivered 50 Christmas meal boxes to residents in need on Saturday morning.

Greenfield Elks Lodge members assembled and delivered 50 Christmas meal boxes to residents in need on Saturday morning. STAFF PHOTO/MADISON SCHOFIELD

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

Staff Writer

Published: 12-23-2024 1:53 PM

GREENFIELD — Serving up holiday spirit, members of the Greenfield Elks Lodge delivered 50 boxes of food on Saturday to residents in need of a Christmas dinner.

“It’s part of what we all do around here — it’s an organization that donates to charity,” said Greenfield Elks Lodge Treasurer Tim Herzig, who has been organizing the holiday meal initiative for eight years, when he took it over from his father, George Herzig. “Throughout the year we do things to help us get donations. We have our golf tournament, the turkey raffle, any kind of fundraiser we can do.”

The Elks is one of the largest and oldest fraternal organizations in the country, and its members have been dedicated to community service and charity work since the mid-1800s. The Greenfield Elks Lodge was established in 1913 and has grown to have 439 members, many of whom work to support charity efforts throughout the year, including the annual delivery of the Christmas meal boxes.

Like a well-oiled machine, members of the Elks gathered at their Church Street lodge bright and early Saturday morning. In just about 20 minutes, they had filled boxes with everything needed for a holiday feast: turkey, vegetables, cranberry sauce, stuffing, rolls, potatoes and apple pie.

The Elks Lodge has been distributing holiday meal boxes for more than 110 years, helping to ensure people who wouldn’t otherwise have a Christmas dinner get one, according to Herzig. After fundraising throughout the year, they buy the food in December and assemble the boxes. The list of meal recipients is then divvied up, with five or six boxes placed in each vehicle. Then, the Elks personally deliver the meals to residents’ front doors.

This year, the Elks raised $3,600 to put together 50 boxes for Greenfield residents in need. Herzig said community partners such as the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office TRIAD Program and area schools identify families and individuals who could benefit from a meal.

Community members who received the boxes expressed gratitude to the Elks on Saturday. Leyden Woods resident John Sears said he was thankful for the meal, which will make the upcoming holiday even more special. Upon opening the box and looking at its contents, his children began shouting with delight about their turkey.

“It’s just refreshing to see the work we do for the less fortunate,” said Elks member Bob Mott.

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Herzig said he and other Elks members are happy to volunteer to put together these boxes to help make the holiday special for others. For him, the activity is particularly enjoyable as he gets to work with his family. He has been an Elks member for 38 years and began working on assembling meal boxes alongside his father. He now puts the boxes together with his son and nephew, and watches the end product go to feed other local families.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.