When Orlando Elks Lodge #1079 invests in its community, the impact reaches far beyond city limits. This summer, that impact was felt in Fort Myers, thanks to the lodge’s support of the Proximity Church Youth Group, a team of nine boys and two leaders on a mission to serve. Many in the group have previously volunteered at Orlando Lodge events. The group joined over 300 students July 14-17 at the Next Level Student Conference, a gathering for spiritual growth, fellowship and community service. The lodge’s $2,000 donation covered costs for transportation, housing, meals and supplies. One of their projects was at St. Matthew’s House Women and Children’s Shelter, a facility that has been at capacity since opening in November 2024. The shelter currently provides a safe haven for 11 mothers with children, 24 single women, and countless others in need. Florida has the third-highest homeless population in the nation, with a troubling rise in youth homelessness. At the shelter, the Orlando youth group helped refresh the mulch on the playground, performed beautification projects around the property, and created a welcoming environment for the children who use the space daily. They also joined fellow conference attendees in packing over 400 meals for the unhoused in Fort Myers.
For the Proximity Church youth, the trip was more than a conference. It was a lesson in humility, compassion and teamwork. They returned to Orlando not only with stories to share but with a deeper understanding of what it means to be part of something bigger than themselves. The lodge’s contribution did more than fund a trip. It empowered the next generation to serve, to lead and to live out the values that have made the Elks a force for good for over 150 years.
Pictured are Luis Marrero, youth leader; David Londono; Braden Johnson; Javier Maldonado; Micah Maldonado; Alexander Soza; Aramis Luzunaris; Adrian Burgos; Jonathan Graveran; and Mario DeJesus, youth leader.