This is a press release that had slipped under the radar, but I think is pretty important:

The Ladies of Elk’s, the auxiliary organization for the Bend Elk’s Lodge #1371, is continuing it’s 30-plus year tradition of providing toys to needy families this holiday season. They collect toys from several trees that have been placed in stores all over town, and then give them to families who are receiving food baskets the Bend Elk’s Lodge puts together every year.

The Ladies of Elk’s have been collecting Christmas toys for over 30 years. The Monday after Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season for these ladies, as they put up trees with tags in different stores around town along with houses for the presents to go in.
This year the Ladies of Elk’s, along with the Bend Elk’s Lodge, are putting together over 200 baskets of food and toys for families. With over 500 children, this is the most children the Ladies of Elk’s have attempted to collect for. They are looking for help from the community to help fulfill the requests. There are trees up in the following stores: Fred Meyers, C.E. Lovejoys, Wagner Mall, Ericksons, and Wal-Mart. They will picking up unwrapped toys in these locations until the week of Christmas. The toys, and food baskets, are delivered Christmas Eve Day.

The Ladies of Elk’s began in 1949 as the Wives, Mother’s, Sister’s, and Widows of Elk’s Lodge members. Their goal is to support the community through donations to several other non-profits in town, scholarship’s to local students, and providing toys to underprivileged children in the Central Oregon area.

Contact Information:
Katy Ipock, Co-Chairperson
63120 Boyd Acres Road, Bend OR
541-771-2522