In August 2024, CVEL members partnered with the National Alliance of Mental Illness to help raise funds for the local association that serves the surrounding communities in Shelby County, Alabama. The purpose of the Alliance is to raise mental health awareness within the community and to provide mental health programs for teens, adults, caregivers, and Veterans. The Lodge members have made personal financial donations of $500. In addition, members volunteered over 50 hours to support the alliance. Members sponsored and participated in walkathons and cornhole competitions that raised over $1000. The Lodge has made it possible for the local Alabama Alliance of Mental Illness to expand its workshops, outreach programs, and clinical services.
Pictured: Successful Cornhole Tournament Participants Left to Right: Member Anthony Freeman and his daughter, Meredith; Member Gina Johnston; Leading Knight Greg Ponder; PERS Sharon Gaydon and Leon Johnston; and Member Norma Rogers.
2023
The Cahaba Valley Elks Lodge was spotlighted as a supportive partner of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The Lodge has played a pivotal role in attending, promoting, and providing financial support for NAMI programs. Its members volunteer for various NAMI events, such as City Events, NAMI Walks and Calebs Charity Cornhole Classic as well as the annual Christmas gathering. The Elks’ support for Mental Health Awareness does not stop with their involvement with NAMI Shelby. They have also partnered with Central Alabama Wellness to create and produce videos that addressed multiple areas of mental health disorders that were distributed across the state. Those same talents and resources were used to produce videos to distribute to state legislators to solicit support for increased funding for our statewide Mental Health Centers and other needs within our mental health system. For many years they have worked with the Central Alabama Veterans Collaborative providing pathways for Veterans in need of mental health care for PTSD and other disorders. L to right CVEL Lecturing Knight Greg Ponder, CVEL Secretary Leon Johnston, CVEL member Gina Johnston, NAMI Director Anna Noyes, CVEL Leading Knight Ron Stone