Offered by Jim Vincent, Vice Chairman of the Colorado Elk’s Leather Program
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 are collecting 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. In addition, the Elks run a program where tanned leather is made into craft kits which are distributed through the VA Hospital and clinic system. This drive is part of a nation-wide leather program that the Elks have been operating since 1948. “So Long as There Are Veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Will Never Forget Them.”
Once the hides are donated, volunteers clean, salt, fold and stack them. They are then transported to tanneries for processing. A portion of the leather is made available in craft kits provided to Veterans through the VA clinic and Hospital system. Over 50% 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 100% funded by the Elks, all at no cost to Veterans or the government. Hides can be dropped off at: Brighton Elk’s Lodge, 101 N. Main St., Brighton, CO. Please place the hides in the hide container located 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
