About the Elks

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is one of the oldest and largest fraternal organizations in the country. Since its inception in 1868, the Order of Elks has grown to include nearly 1.2 million men and women in almost 2200 communities. We do not question one’s religion, nor do we exclude anyone because of creed, race, ethnic origin, education attainment, vocation, material status, or physical stature. We love our country and do not seek to impose different beliefs in place of personal commitments to God, Family, and Country, nor do we ask anyone to act in any manner contrary to the dictates of their conscience. We do not permit religious or political differences to intrude into our organization.

On the National Level, over the past 135 years the Elks have distributed over $3 billion in cash, goods and services to the nation's youth, its veterans, the disadvantaged and handicapped and in support of patriotic and civic programs. The Elks National Foundation was established in 1928 and is an endowment fund that has grown to over $320 million with only the interest from the fund being expended. The Elks National Foundation's mission is "helping Elks build stronger communities." We do this by providing tomorrow’s leaders, our youth, with a healthy beginning, by providing more scholarships than any organization besides the U.S. Government. For our veterans the Elks’ pledge that, "So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them". We do this locally and nationally; the Elks started the very first Veterans Hospital.

On the Georgia State Level

This Association of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodges of the State of Georgia is formed to unite all Elks in closer bonds of fraternity, to further good fellowship among Lodges, to protect and promote the interest of this Order in the State, and to bear true allegiance to the Constitution and Laws of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America.

We offer support for local Lodges through the following committees:

At the Covington Lodge 1806

We offer to our members:

• camaraderie, fun and service
• leadership skills & training
• Friday evening meals
• balls, dances and Elkadette card parties
• services and short term funds for needy Elk families
• postsecondary scholarships
• Elkadette auxiliary
• funeral service

We support our local community by

• providing free dictionaries to every third grader in Newton County public schools via Elkadettes
• improving drug awareness through free materials, information trailer, poster contest and Elroy the Elk
• participate in local events such as golf tournaments
• sponsoring Newton County school Hoop Shoots which culminate in scholarships at upper levels
• sponsoring Newton County school Soccer Tournaments which also culminate in scholarships at upper levels
• annual dinner for and honoring local law enforcement officers
• supporting services and funds for Elks Aidmore Children's Home in Conyers
• providing Flag Day and Memorial Day services
• supporting our troops overseas, including Elkadettes sending packages of personal items
• visiting veterans in local homes, assisted living and nursing facilities
• donating services and food to the community at Thanksgiving and Christmas
• supporting the 1st week in May as Youth Week
• providing free drug awareness comic books to students in the 4th and 5th grades in Newton County
• participating in the Newton County School System's program on Red Ribbon week the last week in October.by providing 40,000 red ribbon stickers
• sending girls to Girls State program via Elkadettes
• provide goodie boxes to veterans in local nurisng homes on Veterans Day

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  Our Mission:
  To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share.