$10,000 Homeless Youth Impact Grant Awarded
Submitted by Jeff Beasley, Esteemed Lecturing Knight
Phoenix Elks Lodge #335 has received a $10,000 Homeless Youth Impact Grant through the Elks National Foundation. The Elks are a benevolent organization that provides more college scholarships than any other organization, second only to the U.S. government.
The Lodge’s “Youth Empowerment Project” focuses on serving homeless high school students identified under the McKinney-Vento Act. The Lodge is working with local organizations — including churches, the Paradise Valley School District, and Homeless Youth Connection — to identify how best to serve vulnerable youth.
The need is real. According to the 2024 Maricopa County Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, 9,642 individuals are experiencing homelessness on a single night, including more than 2,400 youth and children.
The grant is designed to meet tangible, practical needs that directly remove barriers to education and stability, including:
- Hygiene kits and personal care items
- School supplies and backpacks
- New clothing, shoes, and prom/job interview attire
- Bedding — pillows, sheets, and blankets
- Transportation assistance such as bus passes and rideshare cards
- Seasonal support like winter clothing and back-to-school drives
On a monthly basis, the Lodge will host events in the community and at Phoenix Elks Lodge: assembling and distributing care packages, coordinating directly with school McKinney-Vento liaisons, hosting themed donation drives such as hygiene month and backpack month, and tracking outcomes and partner feedback to measure impact.
If your church, organization, or someone you know is working with youth experiencing homelessness and these needs align, please contact the Lodge. The goal is to complement — not duplicate — community efforts and ensure resources are reaching the students who need them most.
Originally published in the March 2026 Tracks newsletter of Phoenix Elks Lodge #335. Read the full issue (PDF).
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