The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Elks donates to Karing Kitchen
$1,500 grant to help support community outreach
ONEIDA, N.Y. » The Oneida Elks Lodge is investing in Karing Kitchen and the work it does.
The Elks Lodge approached Karing Kitchen, asking if organizers would be interested in the $1,500 Anniversary Grant and if they could utilize it. Karing Kitchen Director Melissa King was surprised, but happy.
“The grant is going to help us meet our needs to address hunger for families in the community,” King said. “Our numbers keep increasing. That’s the hard part and I never want to get to the place where we have to turn someone away.”
Oneida Elk Exalted Ruler Matt Malinowski and Elks Treasurer Kathy Malinowski visited the Karing Kitchen Wednesday to present the check.
Kathy said the Elks National Foundation distributes money through the community every year and tries to pick different organizations to give to. Last year, the Elks National Lodge secured $2,000 in grant money for the Oneida City Police Department and the City of Oneida Parks and Recreations Department. With that money, the OPD purchased a new Trek Mountain Bike for patrols and the Parks and Recreation Department purchased several sets of bows and arrows for a new community archery program.
With different organizations looking to help the community, sometimes securing grants is a balancing act.
“I try to work with other organizations on competing grants, so that we’re working together as a team,” King said. “I try to be respectful of other organizations’ needs are and what our needs are.
“The truth is, every agency
in this community needs funding, but there’s only a limited amount,” she said. “We have to be respectful. If we can’t work together, then we’re not being fiscally responsible or living up to the true message of our clientèle and serving them in the best manner possible.”
Karing Kitchen does a lot for the community, including its Summer Youth Employment through Madison County. King said participants help with Karing Kitchen, whether it be cooking, cleaning or events like the rummage sale.
Mareina Mulvihill, 15, Nelson Dawley, 19, and Kyle Lohr, 14 were at Karing Kitchen for the four week program. Themembers of Summer Youth Employment have a lot of responsibilities, Mulvihill said. “We did the rummage sale, washed dishes, clean the kitchen, serve food and sort the pantry,” Lohr said. Out of everything, the three agreed the most fun they had was cooking and learned new skills they’ll take with them in the future.
Karing Kitchen just finished up their Christmas in July campaign, but Cash for Cans at the Gorman Center is extending its commitment to match any cans donated until Aug. 15. King said if anyone brings any cans and mentions Karing Kitchen, the deposit return for the cans will be doubled.
Anyone interested in donating or volunteering for Karing Kitchen can contact King at 315-761-8135.
The Elks National Foundation is the charitable giving arm of The Elks, with a mission to help Elks build stronger communities by investing where Elks live and work.
For more information on Elks National Foundation, visit www.elks.org/enf
For those interested in becoming a member of the Oneida Elks Lodge, call 315363-2370.