Rochester Elks donates money to buy headphones for Tilton Vets home

Rochester Voice 9:06 a.m.


Rochester Elks donates money to buy headphones for Tilton Vets home

From left, Peggy LaBrecque, NH Vets Home commandant; Jerry Skidds, Elks Exalted Ruler; Norman Sanborn, resident and Rochester Elks member; Norman Gervais, #1393 Lodge Secretary, Matthew Henry, Vets Home administrative services director. (Courtesy photo)

TILTON - Representatives from Rochester Elks Lodge #1393 presented the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton with 51 sets of headphones for use by the residents on Tuesday.

The $509 used to buy them was possible through an Elks National Foundation Beacon/Spotlight Grant.

The Home normally provides the residents with headphones, used for listening to music or television outside of authorized hours. However, due to additional expenses created by the pandemic, they no longer had the funds. This donation will allow the residents to enjoy their favorite programs at their leisure without disturbing others in the home.

Making the presentation was Exalted Ruler, Past Exalted Ruler, Past District Deputy Jerry Skidds and Elks National Foundation Chair/Lodge Secretary and Past Exalted Ruler, Norman Gervais from Rochester, NH Elks Lodge #1393. On hand to accept the headsets were NH Vets Home Commandant Margaret "Peggy" LaBrecque; Norman Sanborn, Merchant Marine/Navy Veteran Home Resident and a member of Rochester Elks Lodge and Matthew "Matt" Henry, NH Vets Home Administrative Services Director.

The NH Veterans Home was founded in 1890 and has capacity for 250 residents. It currently has a census of 136 military veterans. Rochester Lodge #1393 has been supportive of this facility and its residents for decades with monetary donations and volunteers involved in activities such as bingo, cookouts and an annual Christmas Party for the residents.

Since the early 1900's, the Elks pledge has been, "So long as there are Veterans, the Elks will never forget them." The Elks National Veterans Service Commission takes that pledge one step further, and promises service to our nation's veterans and military members, with a special focus on service to those in need.

To learn more about the Elks and their programs, please visit: www.elks.org