MOSES LAKE - The Columbia Basin Elks were able to advance with an interior remodeling project at their lodge thanks to the Moses Lake Home Depot.

A group of store employees volunteered their time and skills this week to work on the project, which involved installing new ceiling tiles and painting in the lodge's back lounge area. Home Depot also gave the Elks money to use for paint and various building materials.

Elks officer Janice Lindsey said the current work is the second phase of their overall plan to update the inside of the lodge. Work on the first portion, their main ballroom area, began in April, she said.

The organization used their own funds to buy materials to repair the roof, install new carpeting, paint the walls, re-cover the stage and put in new wall sconces in the ballroom, Lindsey said.

She said they were going to wait on touching he back lounge area until they could raise more funds for that part of the project, but the Home Depot stepped in at just the right time.

"We weren't going to do the whole project right away because we were financing it ourselves," said Lindsey. "So Home Depot saying they would help was a bonus, it allowed us to finish the whole project."

She said Elks members decided earlier this year it was time to update the interior of the building. In addition to updating the ballroom and back lounge area, the Elks will also eventually fix up the bar area and re-tile the entryway.

The current lodge was built in the late 1970s, after a fire destroyed the old one. That lodge was built in the 1950s, said Lindsey, when the original Moses Lake Elks group was established.

They eventually became the Columbia Basin Elks in 2005, when they merged with the Ephrata Elks. "We wanted to remodel the inside, and have a nice place for our community," said Lindsey. The Elks do a lot for area veterans and youth, she said.

They host a free Veteran's Day dinner, for example. This year they served more than 80 veterans, said Lindsey.

The Elks have also opened up their lodge in the past for Junior Rodeo, 4-H and youth softball teams to use for their various events, she said. Members have also helped the Moses Lake Food Bank, the Cub Scouts and New Hope with funding needs over the years.

"The Elks are very community oriented," said Lindsey.

She said it's evident the Home Depot is as well, since they decided to help the Elks.

"We're very fortunate to have them assist us, and very appreciative," she said.

Lindsey said Elks members were shopping at Home Depot for supplies for the first part of the project when they got to talking with store employees. The employees suggested they apply for a store program that exists to help with community projects such as the Elks remodel.

“We applied and they came back and said yes, we qualify,” said Lindsey. “That was such a boost for Home Depot to come in and help us like that.”

She said she’s excited, as are other members, for the remodeling work to be completed.

“We’re very pleased with how it’s all turning out, it’s already such a transformation,” said Lindsey. “We’ll be so proud to bring people into the Elks Lodge now.”