Offered by Jim Vincent
The Brighton Elks have begun their annual big game hide collection to benefit Our Nation’s Veterans. Local hunters have the opportunity to lend a helping hand to Veterans in need. The Elks have begun their annual collection of deer, elk, and other animal hides which will be tanned and made into fingerless wheelchair gloves that will be given to Our Nation’s wheelchair bound Veterans. The Elks also have a program in place where tanned leather is made into craft kits that are distributed through the VA Hospital and Clinic system. The drive is part of a nation-wide 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. After cleaning and tanning, a portion of the leather is made available in craft kits to Veterans to make wallets, clothing, belts and moccasins for personal use or to enter in arts and crafts shows. The remainder of the leather is made into fingerless wheelchair gloves for disabled Vets and distributed through the VA system by representatives of the Elks. The program is funded by the Elks at no cost to Veterans or the government. Hides can be dropped off at the Brighton Elk’s Lodge, 101 N Main St, Brighton, CO. Please place the hides in the hide container next to the metal building in the Elk’s parking lot behind the building. For more information, contact Jim Vincent, Chairman of the Colorado Elk’s Leather Program at jim.vincent@live.com
Click here to view Jim Vincent, Farmers Insurance on The Brighton Buzz Business Directory
