GREENFIELD — They weren’t reindeer that delivered holiday cheer and Christmas meals to city residents Saturday, they were Elks.
The local chapter of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks held its annual Christmas meal basket distribution Saturday.
With $2,000 raised from the Greenfield Elks Lodge’s various fundraisers this year, the Elks filled baskets with 20-pound turkeys, stuffing, canned vegetables, potatoes, butter and pies, then drove the Christmas dinners to local families in need.
For organizer Tim Herzig, the reactions of those who received the free meals Saturday will stick with him.
“A woman was in tears,” Herzig said. “She was so appreciative, and we see a lot of that.”
According to Herzig, 50 baskets were delivered. He received the names of people in need from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County, from the TRIAD program for elders and people with disabilities and from Greenfield Public Schools.
In about 15 minutes, 35 lodge members put together all the baskets and were out the door, Herzig said.
Herzig took over running the event four years ago from his father, George Herzig, who had organized the charity for 30 years, and his son and nephew are also involved. It’s symbolic, because those who received baskets were, for the large part, families.
“Because we get names from the schools, naturally a lot of them are families,” Herzig said.
He added that in recent years he has heard homelessness and other forms of poverty in the area have increased. While the Elks have delivered 50 baskets for a number of years now, Herzig said they are doing a better job at identifying those in need because of the lodge’s relationship with organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“We feel the names we get now are truly the neediest,” he said. “It’s families, primarily. We don’t just give it to an individual.”
The lodge this year received 10 names from TRIAD, 10 from Big Brothers Big Sisters and 15 from the schools, with members bringing forth other names of people who could use help. Friday night, members went out and purchased the goods to be prepped and sent off in the morning.
“By us reaching out, we’re helping,” Herzig said. “We’ve really got the right agencies.”
Herzig said the lodge recognizes peoples’ needs during the holidays, and the lodge also threw a Christmas party two weeks ago for The United Arc, for people with intellectual disabilities, as well as the lodge’s usual charities for veterans and impoverished youth.
Drivers are given five or six cards, with a recipient’s name, address and phone number, before delivering the meals. Herzig said recipients are notified ahead of time, and face-to-face contact is made with people who receive the meals. There are no surprises.
“Tears, just tears,” lodge member Robert Mott described the deliveries.
There are over 2,000 Elks lodges across the country, with members including former U.S. presidents, like John F. Kennedy, and deeds like the Christmas meal delivery is a point of pride for members. Mott said the annual Christmas meals drive represents what it means to be part of the Elks, and uphold the words “Benevolent and Protective” in the order’s name.
“We all do the same type of thing all year,” Mott said. “We raise a lot of money, and we give it all away.”
According to Frederick D. Ulrich, lodge secretary, the local Elks delivered their first Christmas baskets in 1913, the year the lodge was incorporated.
Indeed, lodge records show that then-member John K. Kelley reported $80 was spent on 30 baskets, which were distributed to the poor in Greenfield, Turners Falls and Deerfield on Christmas Eve, 1913. Another roughly $125 was raised to buy and donate Christmas gifts that year.
Reach David McLellan at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.