As part of a network of more than 2,000 lodges in communities all over the country, the Wareham Elks Lodge works to be a gift that keeps on giving. 

The charitable foundation presented Homes for Our Troops with a donation of $2,322 on Thursday night.  

The sum was generated over six weeks during the meat raffles that the Lodge hosts every Thursday. The money will go towards building specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post- 9/11 veterans. 

“The Elks organization is an organization that gives back to the community, that’s what we are all about,” said Lodge member Ted Hatch. “We generate money and give it back for all kinds of causes, so it’s a good thing all the way around.”

Established in 2004, Homes for Our Troops gave away its first mortgage-free and the wheelchair-accessible house only a year later. 

The organization’s buildings offer more than 40 major special adaptations to provide full accessibility. Some examples include lower countertops, roll-under sinks, pull-down shelving, wider doorways, automatic doors, and roll-in showers.

“It all adds up. You have to get past that stigma of ‘I can only raise like 200 dollars.’ It all goes into the greater bucket,” said Manager of Corporate Philanthropy Matt McGuire. “When you multiply it across the board it adds up tremendously and allows our mission to thrive.”

Homes for Our Troops hosts over 600 fundraisers across the country every year that help the organization to “stay on track building these homes.”

“The organization has many corporate supporters but 70 percent of the money comes from individual donors,” said McGuire.

To learn more about Homes for Our Troops, visit www.hfotusa.org.