By Clare BUCHANAN

The Glendale Moose Lodge 641 is a local chapter of a fraternity organization focused on community engagement and charity work. Recently the Glendale Moose Lodge 641 held its first open house, a welcoming event accompanied by informational booths and free hot dogs.

Richard Burrola, the president of the Glendale Moose Lodge 641, said the goal of the open house was to show people in the area what the Moose Lodge does.

“Hopefully they’ll like it and sign up to be members,” Burrola said.

The Glendale Moose Lodge is part of a larger international organization that collects donations to fund Mooseheart Child City & School for disadvantaged youth and Moosehaven City of Contentment for the retired elderly. These two communities rely solely on Moose Lodge volunteer efforts and donations.

One of the booths at the open house was the Safe Surfin’ Foundation. Terry Hill, who is the office manager at Moose Lodge 641, was working the booth and was on hand to help members of the community make EZ-ID kits for children and elderly family members. In case of an emergency, these EZ-ID kits can be given to law enforcement to further its investigation. Safe Surfin’ Foundation’s message is important to Hill, as well as the Moose Lodge, because it focuses on protecting vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Moose Lodge can visit its local office at 4011 La Crescenta Ave. The office is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.