North Central District

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Written by Denise Kalman-Smith

South Lake Elks knew they could not do their regular outreach events this year and felt it was best to get many agencies together to create a large collaborative effort. Christmas Across South Lake was created by South Lake Elks to help make Christmas a little brighter this holiday season for children in the South Lake community. Elk volunteers distributed 146 toy collection boxes and several Angel Tree tags to numerous businesses all over the area. Local businesses encouraged their customers to drop off toys in their collection boxes and offered their customers free or discounted items for their donation. Also, approximately 48 nonprofits, civic clubs, service groups, schools and police departments participated by either making donations or gathering toys.

An online application was set up for those wanting to sign up to receive something. The link was shared with churches, schools, civic organizations, police and fire departments, the mayor's office and other nonprofit organizations. Everyone who applied received something.

Collections for new toys, gifts and food began Nov. 9, and the last toy was distributed Dec. 24. A warehouse was donated for use by a member of the community and each family was called and given a date of pickup which was a drive-thru setup. Volunteers wearing masks loaded toys and foods in their vehicles.

The lodge spent its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant which was matched by the Florida State Elks Association for a total of $7,000 entirely on food for the families. Members shopped groceries which were greatly discounted for the Elks by Winn-Dixie. The lodge used its $2,000 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to purchase bicycles since that was a major request. The lodge donated an additional $2,000 and the rest came from donations from the community.

The impact this endeavor made was tremendous — 2,510 children and 725 families in the Clermont, Minneola, Montverde, Groveland and Mascotte area received a boost this holiday season. A total of 610 food baskets were distributed as well.

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Written by South Lake Elks

At the District Deputy visitation at South Lake Elks Lodge #1848 Nov. 15, lodge member Mendy Bacon (right) presented a check for $12,462.98 for the Florida Elks’ major projects to Colleen Gallant, PDD, Director of Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services. Denise Kalman-Smith, PER, Exalted Ruler, looks on. The donation was raised through the lodge’s Boating for Kids annual fundraiser, the floating poker run, which Bacon organizes. It was held in July.

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Written by Dick Bardsley, PDD

For the past seven years, Winter Park Elks Lodge #1830 has hosted a white elephant gift exchange. This year, Stephanie Yohman, chair, continued the tradition Nov. 29 with masks and social distancing. Each year, attendees are asked to bring donations to supplement three local elementary school food pantries and items for cats and dogs in rescue shelters in central Florida. This year due to the pandemic and state mandated guidelines, turnout was lower than usual at 25 members, but approximately 75 pounds of food for Happy Trails Animal Rescue and 50 pounds of food for Cats Can Feline Rescue were still collected along with monetary donations. Both rescues were happy to receive the donations as they both said, "Every little bit helps." There were also a few donations for school food pantries that the lodge supports. 

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Written by James Manos

Inverness Elks Lodge #2522 was proud to sponsor the 2020-2021 Elks Drug Awareness Education essay and poster contests. Pictured Nov. 11 are Andrew Moore, SRO Deputy; Daniel Harsh, third-place essay contest winner; Mikayla Lucena, first-place essay contest winner; Felicity Mohammadbhoy, second-place essay contest winner; Jim Manos, Drug Awareness Education Lodge Chair; and Dianna Goolsby, Lecanto Middle School assistant principal. Goolsby is holding a framed certificate that was presented to the school. The theme this year was “No Excuses.”

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Written by Inverness Elks

Inverness Elks Lodge #2522 completed its seventh year of the Backpacks for Success school supplies program. This year, the lodge provided 168 backpacks as well as school supplies for 60 area children in foster care and students in 17 local schools. The lodge works with the Citrus County Foster Parent Association Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization. Funds were again provided by the $2,500 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant. The lodge used some of its charity funds as well. The lodge purchased backpacks in bulk and school supplies from a wholesale source in June once the decision was made to open Citrus County schools. This year, most of the backpacks and supplies were shipped directly to the lodge. Because of the pandemic, instead of having 30 individuals at the lodge to pack everything in one day, the lodge members worked in groups of five from Aug. 10-14. On Aug. 15, the backpacks and supplies for the children in foster care were delivered to a central distribution point five days before school started. On Aug. 18 and Aug. 19, members delivered the backpacks to the guidance department of each school by appointment.