Local Elks Lodge adds to tornado donations

Brenda Colling, second from right, who organized the Elks Lodge fundraiser for Joplin, presents a check to Whendi Martin, second from left, executive director of the Bourbon County Chapter of the Red Cross, at the lodge on Tuesday. With them on the far left are Kayla Bishop, the Elks' public relations official, and Jim Walker, far right, the Elks' exalted ruler. (Ruth Campbell/Tribune)

Soliciting donations from its members, Elks Lodge No. 579 in Fort Scott collected $415 for victims of the May 22 Joplin tornado.

The check was presented to Whendi Martin, executive director of the Bourbon County Chapter of the Red Cross, Tuesday at the lodge. "In 30 days, we've collected (just) shy of $25,000," for Joplin, she said.

The fundraiser was organized by Brenda Colling. She said funds were solicited from members. The Elks Lodge has 140 members.

"They wanted to do something nice," Elks spokeswoman Kayla Bishop said.

Martin said the total amount of money contributed to Joplin is significant. In its yearly fundraiser, the Bourbon County Chapter of the Red Cross tries to gather about $17,500. "We've sent $25,000 out of here in the last 30 days. It's a very significant amount of money for our chapter," Martin said.

Martin and Elks Exalted Ruler Jim Walker encouraged people to keep giving.

"Red Cross is the single most important organization in a crisis like that. For those who have a few dollars, the Red Cross is the perfect place to send it because there is such a need," Walker said.

Martin said Red Cross is continuing to take contributions and still gets funds for those disasters that are out of the headlines like the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the tornado in Alabama. "Just because it's no longer in the headlines doesn't mean there's not a need there. If anybody wants to donate, we're still sending it on," Martin said.

The Bourbon County Chapter of the American Red Cross can be reached at (620) 223-0980 and its website is http://www.bourboncountyredcross.org/.