Homer Elks Lodge last month provided Hospice of Homer with a new metal gazebo and barbecue grill to the garden area at the local facility on Pioneer Avenue in Homer. The items were provided through the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant.

Tonja Robinson, the hospice client services director, said clients of the facility love to come outdoors and the new shelter and barbecue offer another opportunity to do that. Peggy Murphy, Elks ruler, mentioned that the close proximity to the city’s nature trail behind the building is a nice place to offer the materials for outdoor food service.

Murphy said the idea for the items came from Derek Mezackheadrick, chaplain of the Elks, and that he provided most of the effort in installing the gazebo. Murphy mentioned that Elks was proud of the work he provided.

In the Elks recent monthly newsletter, Murphy described some of Mezackheadrick’s other contributions to the organization. He has been a member roughly a year ago, serves on the house committee and prepared countless meals to stock their local food pantry.

Staff members from the hospice and Elks volunteers Jan Jonker, Matt Hockema and Gary Mezak also helped install the new items.