Dear Supporter of Veteran's,

The Elks Would Like To Tan Your Hide To Help Veterans

I am writing to ask you for Your support of the Elk's Veterans Leather Program this year.

The program provides Wheel Chair Gloves and Leather kits to Our Countries Veteran's.

The Elk's National Veterans Service Commission is the major source of hides and tanned leather used for recreational and occupational therapy throughout the Veterans Administration health care system. Leather provides a form of relief by keeping minds active as well as providing exercise for injured and unused muscles and is distributed in craft kits to make wallets, clothing, belts and moccasins for personal use or to enter in arts and crafts shows. .

Included in this program initiated by the Elk's, tanned leather is cut and sewn into specially designed gloves which are furnished to Veterans confined to wheelchairs, thereby protecting their hands during movement. Since the government does not budget money for wheelchair gloves for Veterans, it falls upon the Elk's to keep the supply line open and filled.

Hunters have the opportunity to stretch out a helping hand to Veteran's in need by saving the hides from the animals they harvest (we collect Deer, Elk, Antelope and any other hide that will make quality leather when tanned) and donating those hides to the Elk's Veteran Leather Program. The drive is part of a nationwide leather program that the Elks have been operating since 1948. The motto of the Elks National Veterans Service Commission is: "So Long As There Are Veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Will Never Forget Them".

Once donated, volunteers clean, salt, fold and stack the hides. They are then transported to tanneries for processing. The program is funded by the Elk's at no cost to veterans or the government.

Our veterans responded willingly to our call, and now it is only fitting that we respond to their needs.

When saving hides please make sure to fold them flesh to flesh with hair side out, this keeps the hide from drying until salted and prepared for shipment. All it takes to participate is the willingness to make people aware of the program and collect and salt hides, which at the end of big game season the State Elk's Association will make arrangements to have them shipped to the tannery for tanning. This program is a great way for Elk's and Hunters to unite to give back to the Veterans that have sacrificed for our country.

If you have any questions or if we can be of any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me. With your support we can make this one of the most successful years for the Elk's Veterans Leather program.

The current collection points in Colorado with their address info:
Akron Elk's Lodge #2579, 181 Ash St, Akron
Boulder Elk's Lodge #566, 3975 28 th St, Boulder
Brighton Elk's Lodge 1586, 101 N Main St, Brighton
Canon City Elk's Lodge #610, 404 Macon Ave, Canon City
Colorado Springs Elk's Lodge #309, 3400 N Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs
Deer Trail Elk's Lodge #2307, 664 2 nd Ave, Deer Trail
Durango Elk's Lodge #507, 901 East 2 nd Ave, Durango
Fort Morgan Elk's Lodge #1143, 430 State St, Fort Morgan
Glenwood Springs Elk's Lodge #2286, 51939 Highway 6, Glenwood Springs
Golden Elk's Lodge #2740, 16795 West 50 th Ave, Golden
Grand Junction Elk's Lodge #575 249 S 4th St, Grand Junction
Greeley Elk's Lodge #809, 3061 w 29 th St, Greeley
Idaho Springs Elk's Lodge #607, 1600 Colorado Blvd, Idaho Springs
Longmont Elk's Lodge #1055, 306 Coffman St, Longmont
Pueblo Elk's Lodge #90, 426 N Santa Fe Ave, Pueblo
Salida Elk's Lodge #808, 148 E 2 nd St, Salida
Rifle Elk's Lodge #2195, 501 West 5 th Street, Rifle

In addition if you would be interested in helping with this program by becoming a collection point or to volunteer your time in any other way please feel free to contact us. Your help is welcomed and would be greatly appreciated. We are in need of additional collection points.

Please forward this story to other big game hunters you know. Our goal is to make sure that every Veteran who needs a pair of wheelchair gloves has them available to them. The only way we can make this happen is with your help and support. Currently the Elk's are collecting Big Game Hides in over 20 States and we are distributing leather goods thru the VA Hospital system in all 50 states.

If you would like information about this program you can contact myself or District Chairman, Wayne Rogers, Golden Lodge #2740 at Waynerogers51@msn.com

Thank-you in advance for your support,