The Moreno Valley Elks of Elk Lodge 2697 have been giving back to the community of Moreno Valley for more than 23 years and on Saturday, Nov. 16, they gave back in another way, as they held their Safety First safety fair. The Elks organization is a national charity organization with subdivisions throughout the country, with goals to promote healthy lifestyles, support causes in need of urgent assistance, and to support, honor, and recognize the service provided by U.S. troops and veterans. Elks are also supporters of education, and have been handing out scholarships to hundreds of students throughout the country for vocational colleges or universities. "Elks raise a lot of money every year, and they give it all back to the community. They are next to the federal government in handing out money for scholarships throughout the U.S.," said Barbara Bennyworth, an Elks member and active community volunteer. As a means to raise the amount of money necessary for the organization to continue giving back to the community, the Elks throw a series of events to fundraise. Elks Lodge 2697, in particular, takes on a variety of events, with the Safety First event being one of their biggest events of the year. Safety First is a safety expo aimed at encouraging drug awareness. As Elks Lodge 2697 works in close contact with the Moreno Valley police and fire departments, community members had the chance to meet local police officers and firefighters and get a close look at their equipment. Joan Timm, an Elks Lodge supporter and Safety First event spectator, said he enjoyed the opportunity to see firefighter and police equipment, as well as the opportunity to meet her local "heroes." The event also provided the community with a short presentation on drug awareness given by Phyllis Harris, Treasurer of the Elks Lodge 2607. The presentation covered the severity of drug addiction and the effects drugs can have on both users and their families. It also emphasized the importance of working together as a community to work against this rapid moving "addiction" amongst adolescents. "[Elks] give people a good time, and they help people gain awareness of what's going on through programs like our drug awareness program and other programs we have tied in with the police and fire departments. [We] like to be active in their community and go out and serve others. All around, [Elks] are good people with big hearts," Bennyworth said. Not only did the event promote healthy living, community unison, and public safety, but it also brought about excitement. A local DJ provided music, and the Elks also hosted a mini chili cook-off where event spectators themselves got to judge the chili. Following the cook-off, the awards/charity dinner commenced at 6 p.m. The dinner honored local "Fallen Responders" and the local police and fire departments. This year, the Elks Lodge specifically honored Chief Silvio Lanzas as Outstanding Firefighter of the Year and Officer Jason Santisteven as Outstanding Police Officer. A percentage of the event's proceeds went to to programs selected by local police and fire departments with sandbags and Beanie Babies also being donated. An additional percentage was to go to the local scholarship winners. Judy Smith was a former Elks Lodge 2697 CEO (or "Past Exalted Ruler") and is currently a member of the Chair of Board of Trustees at the 2697 Moreno Valley Elks Lodge. "As a retired educator and current tutor, I'm very much in favor of charity, the reason for which I love the Elks. We do a lot for kids, handing out scholarships, helping out disabled children, promoting health, and more," said Smith.

Moreno Valley Elks Host Safety First Festival