Business and benevolent club pair up to help VFW
“Volunteer. Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” —Arthur Ashe
“Volunteering is at the core of being a human. No one has made it through life without the help of someone else.” —Heather French Henry.
Recently Earl Chavez, owner of Big Earl’s BBQ & Catering, learned about the resignation of longtime cooks for what used to be monthly fundraiser breakfasts for Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and decided to step up and help.
Chavez is no stranger to volunteering — he’s been a member of the local Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) for quite a while…and he’s rearing his daughter to learn about service and volunteering in the community.
He asked Elks Club volunteers to step up and help cook and serve at the February VFW breakfast, as well as some young volunteers.
When asked about his volunteering philosophy, he responded, “The term ‘volunteer’ has been lost with the younger generations. I have always been involved with the community. I think it’s very vital for our community when children understand how they can impact and improve our community. Teaching our children how and why will only improve our lives and our community.”
Chavez’ daughter, Kaleesi Chavez, is really enthusiastic about helping and serving her community — and the Yokayo Elementary fourth-grader isn’t shy about stepping up to work alongside her Dad in community volunteering.
Her eyes lit up when serving breakfast to veterans, families and sometimes a free meal to a person who was hungry.
About the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The BPOE is an American fraternal order founded in 1868 — 155 years ago — originally as a social club in New York City, now headquartered in Chicago.
Stated Purpose: This Fraternal Order was founded “to promote and practice the four cardinal virtues of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its members; to quicken the spirit of American Patriotism and cultivate good fellowship.”
Character of the Order: The Order of Elks is an organization of American citizens who love their country and desire to preserve its cherished institutions; who love their fellow man and seek to promote his well-being; and who love the joyousness of life and endeavor to contribute to it, as well as to share it.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), formally the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, is an organization of U.S. war veterans, who, as military service members, fought in wars, campaigns, and expeditions on foreign land, waters or airspace.
The organization was established twice separately, once by James C. Putnam on Sept. 29, 1899, in Columbus, Ohio. The VFW is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The organization was congressionally chartered in 1936 under the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt.