This year's lodge Sweetheart is Kristen Harp. The Red Pig program is one of many of Kristen's projects this year.

Money raised throughout the state by the Elks Sweetheart program funds one week of camp in Ottine for 350 special needs children at no cost to the families of the campers. Through the funds raised by the Sweetheart Program, special grant money is available to local lodges to purchase goods and services for special needs children.

Texas Elks Camp (http://www.texaselkscamp.org/ ) is committed to teaching children that having a difference doesn't make a difference. Children ages 7 to 15 with varying emotional and physical special needs come to Elks Camp for one week and go home strong, confident and ready to face the world with new hope for the future, as reported consistently by parents and guardians. The Sweetheart Program is the primary source of income to support the Texas Elks Camp. Each Elks lodge in the state of Texas has the opportunity to designate a Sweetheart whose primary function all year is to raise money that goes to support the Texas Elks Camp and Prosthetics Grant Program. In the Gulf Coast District, there is a Sweetheart ball each year to crown the District Sweetheart that raised the most money for the kids. We are proud to say that the Katy Elks Lodge has been a winner of the District Sweetheart more than any other lodge in the Gulf Coast District and has won State Sweetheart more than any Elks Lodge in the state of Texas. Katy Elks Lodge #2628 is proud of our heritage of working hard and giving generously to support the Sweetheart Program and the benefactors, who are the children with special needs.

We fill the Pigs in our Lodge, which is great, but we need to also reach out to the Community for their support wherever possible. Each Lodge member can receive one of our Red Pigs to fill themselves, or bring them to your work or a business that will allow you to leave it to collect donations, therefore, getting the community involved.

Let's get those Pigs filled!