Vero Beach Lodge received a request from Dr. Chadwick Bacon, principal of Gifford Middle School, to sponsor the purchase of items for their uniform closet. The school houses a large student population of families with low incomes. With a homeless or displaced student rate of 26%, many students go home to houses with no electricity or running water. Within hours of receiving the request, members voted to purchase $2,000 worth of clothing and hygiene items. Members and spouses scoured Vero Beach for the best deals. The timing of the delivery Nov. 2 was fortunate because several students reported to the front office that they were cold and had no clothes to dress warmly.
Pictured are Pat Stelz, Community Activities Chair and project manager, and Jack "Tex" McClurken, PDD, Exalted Ruler.