Cody Elks’ 140 holiday food baskets gone in six minutes

CODY (WNE) —Although the Cody Elks had blocked out three hours to distribute free meals on Christmas Eve morning, they ended up giving away the 140 holiday baskets in six minutes. 
It began at 9 a.m.
“And we were done at 9:06. It was pretty crazy,” said Jessica Cogdill, organizer and manager of Elks Lodge No. 1611. 
The notice about the giveaway was announced only on the fraternal order’s Facebook page, prompting her to say, “The news got around quickly.”
The baskets included a “good-sized” ham, stuffing, green beans, potatoes, dinner rolls and crackers – enough for a Christmas meal for four to six people, she said. 
The groceries’ purchase was funded by a $4,000 grant from the national organization, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. With those funds, Cogdill went to Albertsons and presented a list of food and a budget. The staff fulfilled the order, which was so large that it required four pickups to haul the items to the lodge. 
“A group of us” – volunteers and some officers – then assembled the meals, she said. A crew of 15 helped with the distribution.
“Anyone could come by and grab a basket,” she said. “We don’t ask questions.”
This year’s Christmas giveaway was the group’s second and generated a much bigger response than last year’s, Cogdill noted, “because the word didn’t get out.” 
She hopes other organizations will join them in December of 2023.
“We’ll definitely do it next year,” she added. “This is what Elks are all about – ‘Elks care, Elks share,’ that’s our motto, to help the needy.”
 
This story was published on Dec. 30, 2022.