Elks Lodge #1155: Relationships and Charity
- Open Door
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
For 116 years, Elks Lodge #1155 has been loyal to the mission to not only provide the High Point community with a social space but also give local organizations a helping hand.
The Lodge has programs focused on different needs of the community outside of the sweltering summer pool seasons. Member Phil Driscoll said that programs and efforts involving veterans are “very near and dear to our hearts."
Driscoll was the one at the Elks who first heard of the Arthur Cassell Memorial Transitional House by reading about it in a 2019 copy of The High Point Enterprise, a local paper. He wrote the Elks National Fund grants for High Point at the time.
Driscoll said he was curious. “I googled them,” he said. “I looked it up, and I said, ‘Wow, this is a pretty neat organization. It's helping veterans, uh, homeless veterans, so it fits in.’ So, I called up Beth Waters at the time and just asked to meet with her...”
Since then, there has been little thought and plenty of heart in building a relationship and supporting the ACTH and the veterans that reside there. He’s watched vets come and go, watched them light up with smiles, and even helped them get much-needed items.
“We develop relationships with the residents [...] and the staff,” Driscoll said. “We’ve developed some good relationships.”
When new member Joey Gray joined the Elks Lodge in April of 2025, Driscoll quickly brought him in. Gray is a veteran himself. He knows what it’s like to transition back into civilian life. Now, he’s a veteran helping other veterans.
Gray said, “One of the main things that we do with the Cassell House is because [the ACTH] get these veterans into homes, we do what’s called a Welcome Home package.”
These packages consist of $400 worth of items on behalf of the Lodge’s Veterans Committee, which Gray is also a part of. It can be silverware, basic appliances, bedding, or toiletries. The recipient veterans never fail to show just how grateful they are.
“It warms my heart,” Gray says. “An old cold-hearted guy like me, it warms my heart to be able to help.”
Not only does the Elks Lodge get to help the veteran community at ACTH, but individual members also benefit from the experiences. Extra money that the Elks Lodge finds is used as soon as the need is confirmed.
“There's more to the Elks than just us having a great time, which we do,” Driscoll said.
The Lodge is constantly making notes of groups that appreciate the extra donations and monetary gifts. Grant funds are allocated yearly. More recently, even the use of the Elks pool (left) for a day is organized for the veterans to relax and enjoy during the heat of summer.
Gray said, “I heard somebody one time say it that the Elks are a drinking organization with a charity problem.”
Being able to have a conversation with organizations that prioritize charity is transformative for not only overall organizations like Open Door Ministries and the Arthur Cassell Memorial Transitional House, but also for the individuals served.
We thank groups like the Elks Lodge and their members from the past, present, and future. If you are interested in contributing your own donation efforts, please reach out to us on social media or on our website, https://www.opendoorministrieshp.org/.
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Open Door Ministries is a non-profit organization with a faith-based approach, dedicated to helping people regain their independence through supportive services and emergency assistance. Its solution-oriented, ministry-minded programs and services include the operation of a homeless shelter; serving daily meals; distributing non-perishable and fresh food; providing transitional housing for our nation's veterans; providing case-management for survivors of human trafficking; providing emergency assistance and acquiring and maintaining permanent jobs.
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