Save the lodge!

The lodge at 536 W. Green St, also known as Forest City Lodge #180 and Cayuga Temple #54, is in danger of permanent closure and urgently needs support from the community.

Forest City Lodge #180, the oldest black-owned business in Tompkins county, just celebrated their 108th anniversary. The lodge was sustaining a healthy upswing in support and participation, until the unexpected coronavirus crisis hit. Due to mandatory self-isolation to slow the spread of COVID-19, they are facing financial hardship that jeopardizes the future of this historic building. Being a volunteer-based organization that depends primarily on income from bar and food sales, the lodge’s revenues have plummeted altogether. With three months of bills left unpaid, and more to come, they’re in danger of shutting their doors completely. Right now, lodge members and volunteers are working to partially re-open to the public with food take-out service, but the lodge desperately needs additional support to ensure its financial survival.

The lodge has served as a vital space for community social events for over a century, an inclusive space for appreciating music from artists around the world, and recently as a venue for comedy.

Our goal is to assist the lodge in paying their overdue bills (amounting to roughly $4000), ones to come for the foreseeable quarantine (estimated $5000), in addition to expenses needed to jump-start their food take-out service (about $1000). In doing this, we’ll give this historical landmark a fighting chance to stay up and running to continue providing the best soul food, dance floor, and vibes in town.

100% of all monies raised (beyond GoFundMe's processing fee & legal fees) will be used to financially support Forest City Lodge #180 through paying for:

- Operational costs, such as utility & insurance bills
- Building maintenance, including protective equipment for safely operating during quarantine and re-opening.
- Equipment and materials for food take-out service.

Any additional funds will be used for upgrading and repairing building facilities.

Contribute whatever you can to help this business get back on its feet. Lift up the longest-running black business in town and ensure the future of a historical landmark. We can do this. It’s who we are.

Thanks and stay safe!

With gratitude,

Friends of Forest City Lodge #180

#SmallBusinessRelief

**ALL monies raised on this page will be deposited in a dedicated bank account of Forest City Lodge #180 (EIN 51-0141999) for the purpose of providing financial support to Forest City Lodge #180 and Cayuga Temple #54. Forest City Lodge #180 is a branch of The Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World (est. 1897), a charitable, non-profit (501c(8)), historically black fraternal order that promotes positive community building.**

Cayuga Temple #54 members representing at the Ithaca Veteran's Day Parade.
Forest City Lodge #180 members representing at the Ithaca Veteran's Day Parade.
Santa at the Children's Christmas Party, delivering free presents for children in the community.
Comedy night hosted by local organizers.
A foggy dance floor hosted by local organizers.
The social room, a second home to many,