By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer

The Skyforest Elks Lodge issued a call to help local residents in the Rimforest community where they meet, and their members and community members answered the call on Nov. 17, by attending a barbecue dinner, which raised over $2,400.

On Monday Nov. 4, a fire, still under investigation by County Fire, burned down one home and spread to its neighboring house, resulting in two homes and a car being burned completely to the ground, displacing two families and leaving them with nothing. The fire was the day after the strong winds had subsided, or the losses may have affected a much greater number of families.

The losses were not suffered by one of their lodge members the homes were on the same block as one of their officers, so they chose to raise some funds to help them start to overcome this disaster.

Luke Plubell, the Leading Knight of Elks Lodge 2393, said that between 400 and 500 people came to support the cause during the day-long event. That is a lot of community support since the lodge has only 275 members. The barbecue event had support with beer donations from Three Marm Brewery and Inland Empire Brewery. They were barbecuing hamburgers and hot dogs, chicken wings and making nachos. The food was donated by a community member, who didn’t want to be identified, said Plubell, and cooked by members.

He added that “Elks are all about sharing, caring, community and family. Elks care about kids with disabilities, veterans, and do many things locally in the community. Our major fundraiser is our Purple Pig, into which we hope our members will put 10 cents a day to help a child, walk, talk and play.”

The lodge will play host to a special event in February when the regional officers from the 12 nearby Elks Lodges come up the mountain to celebrate the lodge’s birthday and history. Elks is a fraternal order of men and women who work together for a common cause, helping others.

On the last Friday of every month, the public is invited to the lodge to listen to a band; on Nov. 29, it will be Hwy 173. Every weekday, they serve lunch at the lodge, located at 26584 Highway 18. The second Tuesday of each month, they have a country-style breakfast, and every Saturday night, the restaurant is open for dinner, with the second Saturday being prime rib night. Call the lodge at (909) 337-4111 for more details or see their menu on their Facebook page.

“Come by and eat lunch or a Saturday night dinner and see the projects we are involved with; we are proud of all we do,” added Plubell.