Cape Henlopen Elks assist with hurricane relief

In an effort to help victims of Hurricane Helene, which devastated communities in North Carolina in fall 2024, Cape Henlopen Elks Lodge 2540 turned to its members and local partners for assistance.

Led by Exalted Ruler Buddy Hall-McBride, a call was put out for donations, and members monumentally rose to the occasion. A strong charity drive collected over $5,500 to purchase supplies for hurricane victims.

With the help of Hall-McBride, Past Exalted Ruler Paul Holton Jr. and his son Matt, and Dan Gulden and Gene Shellenberger, the lodge purchased supplies discounted by community partners Dollar Tree and Home Depot. Items were driven to the North Carolina hurricane relief distribution center, and later delivered and loaded onto waiting semi-trailers taking vast collections of supplies to the most affected areas.

Items purchased were bleach, Simple Green, Windex, spray bottles, mops and buckets, paper towels, chain saws, cases of water, heavy-duty trash bags, batteries, flashlights, 5-gallon buckets, shovels and heavy tarps. All in all, the Cape Henlopen Elks sent canned goods, paper and cleaning supplies in full truckloads four times, from October to January.