STEVE SPODEN PHOTOS
For 24 years, the Elmhurst Elks Lodge #1531 has been helping needy families in DuPage County through its annual Thanksgiving dinner project. This year, the lodge donated 266 complete Thanksgiving dinner baskets Nov. 17 to 10 area churches (including Villa Park’s St. Alexander Church) and organizations serving needy area families thanks to funds raised through lodge functions, donations and help from lodge members, Villa Park Jewel/Osco and Home Depot. The dinner baskets contained all the fixings for a complete Thanksgiving meal for a family, from turkey to pumpkin pie. After the baskets were packed by nearly 100 volunteers and lodge members, Lombard, Villa Park and Elmhurst police personnel delivered the baskets to the organizations. Chairing the Thanksgiving dinner project again this year was Michael Baren.
