Merritt Island Elks Lodge #2650 has supported Emma Jewel Charter School for the past five years. For parents, children and educators, these schools provide a valuable alternative to the conventional public school system and avoid much of the red tape that comes with it. They allow schools to innovate with new education approaches while largely remaining accountable to the same academic standards to which public schools are held. Merritt Island Lodge received an Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant and Anniversary Grant and then asked the counselors at Emma Jewel what their students needed most. Once again, 35 kids whose parents could not afford them needed new school uniforms. The grant checks were presented to the school administration who then ordered and received the uniforms. On Jan. 24, Wendy Watters, Kermit Forbes, Robin Gammill and Bill Hazelett Sr. went to the school to hand out new uniforms to the students. They were surprised beyond belief and started jumping and singing!
