The Eagles, "People Helping People"

Many private organizations in the Cumberland area do community work for national and local charities, but the Fraternal Order of Eagles may be one of the best kept secrets in charitable work.  People hear the name “The Eagles” and think of a social club offering good times, but they might not realize that the organization has raised $25 million for diabetes research for the University of Iowa. Members spend some weekends at dinners and picnics and many other days raising money for the Lou Reed Spinal Cord Foundation. For those who have family in the military, those relatives may have received one of the care packages the Cresaptown Eagles sends every three months, or perhaps they belong to the Vietnam Veterans of America that received $5,000 from the Eagles this past weekend at their Mid Atlantic Regional Conference last weekend.

The primary focus of the conference was on ways to gain new members and retain current ones. Nationally, membership is down in the Eagles. This is a problem that many social clubs have been facing due to the economic downturn of the country in recent years. “What we’re losing is slowing up,” says Vince Kinman, Grand Aerie Membership Director. “Hopefully, two to three years from now, we can talk about being even or even start going up.” Membership is important to Mr. Kinman and the organization, because the members give their time and energy to all of the charities in which the Eagles participate.

Apart from the national programs the Eagles give to, they also support local causes. The women’s Auxiliary is currently working on a quilt raffle give away to benefit local rescue missions and the local food bank. Recently they have also given over $600 to the cancer wing of the hospital. “We try to give the money we raise locally,” said Chris O’Brien, President of the Cresaptown Ladies Auxiliary. Not limited to just raising money locally, the Auxiliary also puts together “Soldier Boxes” care packages sent out to military units serving over seas.

The Fraternal Order of the Eagles, tries to follow their motto of “People Helping People” as often as they can.