PERU - Mendota Elks 1212 and Oglesby Elks 2360 lodges in cooperation with the Illinois Elks Children’s Care Corporation will sponsor a free children’s orthopedic assessment clinic on Thursday, Aug. 8.

The Elks will hold the clinic from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Illinois Valley Community Hospital, 925 West St., Peru on the first floor across from the X-Ray Department. (Enter the hospital from either lower level on the south side or the main level on west side.) Dr. Richard Erickson of Carol Stream will be the clinician in charge.

The clinic is run by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call the Illinois Elks Children’s Care office at 1-800-272-0074 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are no charges for any services at this clinic.

No medical referral is necessary for the clinic but physicians are welcome to refer patients for a specific reason or a second opinion. School nurses are also welcome to refer children and families to the clinic.

The clinic is an ideal time to have a child reviewed for bone and joint development. Children who have feet pointing out or in, who complain of back, knee, leg, ankle pain or have a back curvature, they can be seen at this clinic. There is no charge for any diagnostic services.

The Elks will provide financial assistance to the best of their ability for children needing further treatment or specialty equipment when the family lacks sufficient resources to do so. In the past, the Elks have purchased therapy services, corrective shoes, braces, wheelchairs and augmentative communication devices to help children overcome a variety of physical challenges.

The Elks Organization has been working with physically challenged children since 1928. This is one of the 16 clinic locations throughout Illinois.