Elks raise over $22,000 for veterans organizations

The Reno Elks raised more than $22,000 for three veterans groups on Saturday and Sunday at 17 local restaurants.The Elks stationed 90 volunteers at 17 different restaurants in the Carson City, South Lake Tahoe and Reno areas to pass out donation envelopes. The states were raised when a potential donor offered the group $10,000 if they could match it, Kim Young, the event chairman, said.“That was pretty cool, we were pretty happy about that,” Young said.The Elks stationed themselves inside all of the International House of Pancakes restaurants in the area Saturday morning and then moved to Bully’s, Sparky’s, Sierra Gold and Men Wielding Fire and other local restaurants on Sunday.“We wanted to make a big difference in the community,” Young said. “Six months ago, we interviewed organizations to see which we wanted to help.”The Elks eventually decided on the Nevada Honor Flight, Food for Families and Veteran’s Guest House.“We wanted this to be about the veterans,” he said.