Elks Redding California Christmas Charity Party and Purple Pig Day
- Jerry Sanchez, Sr.
- Dec 17, 2025
- 2 min read
Not all of the 2,387 members of the Redding, California, Elks Lodge showed up--with children and guests in tow--to enjoy the Christmas Charity Party & Purple Pig Day, on Sunday, December 14, 2025.....but those that did were treated with Santa photos, madrigal singers, gift pick up and a (yummy!) brunch prepared—and joyously served—by cheerful members of the Redding Emblem Club #515, who assist Redding Elks Lodge #1073 in providing financial and community service to those in need.
So what exactly is Purple Pig Day? As explained by Kelly Snowden, who serves as Leading Knight and lead organizer/chairman of the annual event, Christmas Charity Party & Purple Pig Day is always in the middle of December, when Elks members, who belong to the 164 Elks Lodges throughout California and Hawaii that make up the California Hawaii Elks Association (CHEA), turn in their Purple Pig Banks, that they’ve filled with pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars, for distribution to the CHEMPI project.
So for an explanation of what CHEMPI stands for, this reporter turned to Robert R. Lenk, a long-time Redding Elk, who’s served as a Past Exalted Ruler (PER) and currently serves as Chairman of the CHEA Board of Trustees, in addition to serving as a District Leader for seven North State Elks Lodges, including Redding, Chico, Red Bluff, Willows, Yreka, Mt. Shasta and Paradise. As Lenk explains, the Purple Pig major project, begun in 1950, is celebrating its Diamond Anniversary. And at the CHEA Convention in Anaheim last summer, Lenk added, it was announced that donations exceeded five million dollars for the Elks Year, which begins in April and ends the following March 31st. All funds raised go towards in-home child therapy services.
Redding Elks #1073, with a membership roster exceeding 2,300, is one of 164 Elks Lodges in California and Hawaii. Nationally, there are 1,780 Elks Lodges throughout cities and towns across our great country. For men and women that may be interested in becoming an Elks member, there are four criteria: 1.-Be at least 21 years old; 2.-Believe in God; 3.-Citizen of the United States and
4. -Be of good character.
Also, one can inquire online at Elks.org. A proposer, who’s also an Elk in good standing, and two additional Elks, who will serve as references, will be necessary. Lastly, the proposer will send a link to the online application or provide a hard copy application, which is then sent to the Lodge secretary.
