This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
06/07/2022 04:00 PMContinuing its legacy of giving back to the community, the Westbrook Elks Lodge #’1784 recently donated $3,000 to veterans in need thanks to its annual Sock Hop event.
Every year the Westbrook Elks holds the Sock Hop—a dance with classic music from the sock hop era of the ’50s and ’60s—to raise money for charities. This year the sock hop was held in early April and raised $3,000. The money was donated to the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. The donation formally took place on May 15.
Adam Palermo, the exalted ruler for the lodge, explained that “every year we hold the sock hop, we choose a veterans organization to donate to.”
The association is made up of veterans from all branches of the military who ride motorcycles as a hobby. The mission of the group per its website “is to support and protect those who have defended our country and our freedoms. Our focus is to provide assistance and help to individual veterans, veteran care facilities, other veteran organizations and registered charities.”
John Paolillo explained to the Harbor News that he and Catherine VanBlaricom make up the Sock Hop subcommittee and were charged with finding a charity to receive the donation.
“We knew we wanted to do something for veterans and we wanted to do something local,” said Paolillo. “That’s what we do. We’re a benevolent organization and we do a lot of charity and helping veterans is at the top of that.”
Luckily, a neighbor mentioned the motorcycle group to Paolillo and he found the club to be exactly the kind of charity the lodge was looking for.
“He told me about this group and how they take no salary and that all the money goes to local veteran who are in need,” said Paolillo.
Some of the items the group helps with is things like wheelchair ramps, mortgage payments, or other aids.
“That’s what attracted me to the group,” explained Paolillo.
As Memorial Day approached, organizers said they were feeling good being in a position to help veterans who had willingly risked so much for the countryt.
“As a veteran myself, I always look to give back and when we can give back to veterans, it’s something I’m always happy to do,” said Palermo.
For more information on the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, visit www.combatvet.us.