10/01/2026
Rochester Elks #1393 is happy to present the 2026-27 Freedom Grant for $1000 to Fishing For Freedom
On September 29, 2026, Rochester Elks Lodge #1393 presented Fishing for Freedom with a check for $1000.
Fishing for Freedom was founded in 2025 by Jim Saccoccia of Barrington, NH. Jim organizes therapeutic fishing outings for veterans and first responders, focusing on community, camaraderie, and sustainability.
Fishing for Freedom empowers veterans by organizing therapeutic fishing outings that reconnect them with nature, foster camaraderie, and provide nutritious protein through sustainable catch-and-keep experiences. Fishing for Freedom supports veterans in New Hampshire and Maine regardless of physical ability.
Fishing for Freedom works closely with local fishing guides and community members to create meaningful, restorative experiences on the water. For them, "every outing is about more than the catch - it's about healing together".
Left to Right: Georgette Verhelle, Grants Coordinator and Esteemed Loyal Knight, for Rochester Elks Lodge #1393; Jamie Stevens, Secretary, Chief of Development, and Compliance Officer for Fishing for Freedom; Wally Stevens, Member of Rochester Elks Lodge #1393 and supporter of Fishing for Freedom; Rhoda Forsythe-Rivera, Exalted Ruler for Rochester Elks #1393
For more information about Fishing for Freedom, you can find them on Facebook, visit their website at https://fishingforfreedomnh.com/, call them at 603-403-0824, or by email to [email protected].
For more information about the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks go online to elks.org or contact the Rochester Elks Lodge Secretary, Norm Gervais at (603) 332-9700 ext. 2 or email at [email protected]