PIKE COUNTY, Mo. — Members of the Louisiana Elks Lodge #791 assisted more than 350 Pike County students with back to school clothing shopping the week of August 8th.  On two nights, members of the Lodge helped Walmart employees check the families thru with their clothing purchases.

The Elks spent more than $40,000 in funding from their George W. Trimble Trust for the project. Another event will be held later in the fall/early winter for winter clothing. Additionally, the Lodge is using more than $20,000 in Trimble Trust funds to help supply the area public elementary schools with classroom supplies.

Lodge Secretary Tari Rule has been working closely with Louisiana RII, Clopton RIII, Bowling Green RI and BONCL Elementary Schools to get the supplies ordered and into the schools by the start of classes.  In September, the Lodge will also be handing out Dictionaries to third grade students and Thesauruses to fifth grade students. The Elks motto is, Elks Care Elks Share.