West Central District

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Written by Rita Smith, PER

On Aug. 1, Tampa Lodge donated approximately $250 worth of individually wrapped women’s jewelry to the Sunshine Senior Center in St. Petersburg, Florida. The jewelry will be used as game prizes or special occasion-gifts for the many seniors who spend a good part of their day in the facility. 

Pictured are Tom Moore, Friends of the Sunshine Center volunteer; Rita Smith, PER; Carole Ware, Sunshine Senior Center community resources supervisor; and Sally Marvin, Sunshine Senior Center supervisor II.

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Written by Rita Smith, PER

On July 23, several Tampa Elks Lodge members volunteered at the Open Arms Ministry of Hyde Park United Methodist Church. Those in need of a meal come in, get their beverage and are seated. Then the volunteers take trays of food, baskets of fruit and carts of sweets around to serve them. This gives them an opportunity to sit and visit with each other rather than standing in a long line. The lodge has been partnering with this organization approximately 10 years.

Pictured are Patty Volpe; Lisa Davitt; a volunteer whose name was unavailable; volunteer Judith Hilinski, treasurer of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 139; and Brian, Lisa Davitt’s visiting son. Not pictured are members Mike Volpe and Rita Smith, PER.

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Written by Brian LoVetere

Throughout June, Holiday Isles Elks Lodge members collected and donated more than $2,500 worth of food items to The Kind Mouse, a nonprofit organization based in St. Petersburg, Florida, that assists families and children in Pinellas County with food insecurities and chronic hunger.

Pictured June 22 are Jada Nazzaro, nonmember teacher volunteer; Darrell Hutter; Meadow Scarfone, nonmember teacher volunteer; Christa Thompson; Dee Mercer; Jill Harrington; Perinda Patri and her grandson, Dominak; and Marie Rock-Currie.

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Written by Carol Lee Spages

New Port Richey Lodge recognized National Police Week by donating a large tray of cookies with a thank you note to the members of the New Port Richey Police Department May 20.

Pictured are Carol Lee Spages, Americanism Chair; Officer Jose Berrios; Officer Desirae Negersmith; and Fred Spages, PER.

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Written by Rita Smith, PER

The final event of the school year for the Tampa Lodge-sponsored Club Chivalry was the Relay for Life of Tampa, held April 28 at Robinson High Stadium. This is a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. Club Chivalry had a team of 14 students and five Elks and Tampa Lodge is an event sponsor. This was their eighth year participating and one of the best. Lodge member Kristina Chowning was the event activity lead and member Becky Sullins was the survivor lead. Members Douglas Grant, Patty Volpe and Christien Elkins assisted with the setup and cleanup. The event began with a celebratory dinner open to all registered cancer survivors and caregivers. Three lodge members attended. Robert Bordonaro is a cancer survivor, and Susie Harlow and Bob Orcutt were caregivers. Bordonaro was treated to a lap around the track in a convertible, as the opening lap is always the survivor lap. After that, more than 1,000 attendees visited team booths, which all have something to sell, such as games, food and merchandise. The Club Chivalry activity was their famous Booty or Booby game. Patty Volpe took the front as the carnival hawker and Susie Harlow managed the treasure chest. There were 85 customers and all received a prize. By 9 p.m. the luminaries had been distributed and the lights went out. The team sold 18 luminaires and raised $2,008 for the American Cancer Society. The entire event raised $130,901 for the American Cancer Society. Rita Smith, PER, says, “It is truly a moving sight to walk a lap and see how many lives have been adversely touched by cancer.”

Pictured are Kristina Chowning, parade marshal and event lead, with survivor Robert Bordonaro.

Working at the booth are Patty Volpe and Susie Harlow.

The Robinson drum corp leads the survivor lap.

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Written by Rita Smith, PER

On May 3, Tampa Lodge presented the Teenager of the Year award to Brooke Brindise, in front of an audience that included her parents. Brindise is a sophomore at the Academy of the Holy Names. She is carrying a 3.5 GPA while taking all Advanced Placement classes. She is also on the varsity rowing team, which just qualified to compete in nationals. Most importantly, she has accumulated more than 100 community service hours this year, including working with the lodge to feed a hot Thanksgiving meal to those who are homeless and wrapping hundreds of Christmas presents during the lodge’s children’s Christmas party. She and her family also came to the lodge’s aid when they needed servers for their St. Patrick’s party and installation of officers.

Pictured are Edie Hanley, Loyal Knight, and Brooke Brindise.