Students in the Comprehensive Development Curriculum (CDC) program at Unaka High School received a special visit on Wednesday from a local organization who wanted to offer the students a helping hand.
Members of the Elizabethton Elks Lodge visited the school to meet the students and drop off some donations that will help the students develop important life skills. The Elks also hosted an ice cream social for the students.
Students in the CDC program have either a physical or developmental disability. Each student in the program has a personally designed curriculum based on what their abilities and needs are.
“We do mainly life skills,” said CDC teacher Amanda Tester. “That is mainly what we work on in here.”
As part of their life skills education, students learn a variety of every day activities like cooking, cleaning, creating a budget, shopping and a variety of other skills.
“This is going to help with their independent living skills,” Tester said. “The goal is to help them learn to live independently, or as independently as possible.”
The skills learned in the program can also help to prepare them for future employment opportunities, Tester said.
To help with the life skills portion of the program, the Elizabethton Elks Lodge purchased a dishwasher, vacuum cleaner, steam mop, electric skillet, handheld food chopper, popcorn popper, plates, bowls, silverware, oven mitts, dish towels and a variety of cleaning supplies for the class. The items were purchased using a $1,000 grant the local Lodge received from the Elks national organization.
“The members donated so we could meet our Elks National goal,” said Jacklyn Morris, president of the Elizabethton Elks Lodge. “Once you meet your goal you can apply for an Elks National grant.”
The Elizabethton Elks Lodge supports a variety of local organizations and hosts a number of special events each year. The group also does a special community project each year and this year the members decided to help out the CDC class at Unaka High School.
“We check the needs in the community to see what needs to be done and we just try to help them out,” Morris said.
The Elks Lodge has a strong dedication to serving the community, a dedication that many non-members may not realize.
“We do a lot throughout the community that many people don’t realize or know about,” Morris said.
Each year the Lodge sponsors the junior trout tournament at Roan Mountain State Park. This year’s event was held last weekend and Lodge members provided food and prizes to 352 children and their families at the event. The group also sponsors several drug and alcohol awareness events and also helps out members of the community whenever they can.
“We just try to let the community know that we are here to help them,” Morris said.
Anyone interested in becoming a part of the Elizabethton Elks Lodge or anyone who is in need of assistance and wants to see if the Elks can help can contact the Elizabethton Elks Lodge at 423-543-2341.