Pictured with Santa is Zyana Delgado age 7 from Bayard, NM.
Photo by Kenton SmithSubmitted by Andrew Housley

Silver City Elks Lodge No. 413 held its third annual breakfast with Santa and Christmas Project with 40 families on Saturday December 17 offering them a free breakfast at the lodge and giving multiple presents away to more than 45 children, who also got to visit with Santa himself.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is celebrating its 150th year of existence and the Silver City Lodge 413 is about to celebrate its 120th anniversary. Andrew Housley, Saturdays Christmas Project Manager stated the this project is just of the few ways that the lodge promotes the national organization's mantra, "Elks Care, Elks Share."

The 45 families came from nine elementary schools from around the county — five from each elementary school in both the Silver and Cobre school districts grades K-5. The Lodge works with each school nurse to help identify students who may be in need and would not have much of a Christmas without some assistance.

The hundreds of gifts, worth over $5,000, were funded through an Elks National Foundation Beacon and Gratitude Community Investment Program grants and donations from lodge members, and each child received a minimum of $105 worth of presents to take home this year.

The Order of Elks nationally gives nearly 1 Million dollars a day in cash and non-cash donations to charity. So far this year, the Silver City Elks Lodge 413 has given nearly $32,000 to the community.

For more information about Silver City Elks Lodge No. 413, visit silvercityelks.com.