On Dec. 7, Sanford Elks Lodge hosted its fourth annual Christmas for Kids event. The event featured a face painter, hot cocoa bar, crafts, cookie decorating station, and visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Mrs. Claus gave the children a special treat bag with candy and a gift card. The lodge hosted a pizza lunch and photos with Santa.
Pictured are families decorating cookies.
On Dec. 13, Port Orange Lodge donated 135 dictionaries to third grade students at Spruce Creek Elementary School. The students showed their appreciation with a speech and thank you banner.
Pictured with students are Mrs. Woodard, teacher; Joan O'Connor, member; Gordon Place, Exalted Ruler; Lois Place, Lecturing Knight; Ada Sanchez, Treasurer; and Andrea Hall, principal.
On Dec. 10, Port Orange Elks Lodge #2723 donated $200, hygiene products and supplies to stock the food pantry to the Atlantic High School athletic department. Funds for this donation were raised from raffles.
Pictured are Lois Place, Lecturing Knight; Jason Watson, principal; Sarah Kirchnoff, athletic trainer; and Gordon Place, Exalted Ruler.
On Sept. 7, Ormond Beach Elks Lodge #2193 hosted its second annual Duck Drop. The lodge invited community members to participate in its Labor Day weekend festivities, including food, music, dunk tank, games, raffles, auction, cake walk, cornhole and more. The Elks Drug Awareness trailer was used and Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services therapists Althea Montgomery, OTR/L and Beth Thiers, OTR/L attended. The main event was the dropping of 1,500 rubber ducks onto the lodge parking lot from a helicopter supplied by Tomlinson Aviation and member Neal Tomlinson. The ducks were dropped by member Joe Horton. Prizes were awarded to those whose ducks landed closest to the target. The event raised $9,951 for lodge and Elks charitable programs, including the Harry-Anna Trust Fund, Elks National Foundation, lodge scholarships, Drug Awareness program, holiday gift and food baskets, and the Elks National Veterans Service Commission.
Pictured are the rubber ducks being dropped from the helicopter. Photo credit/Michele Meyers, Observer
Sanford Elks Lodge members attended the Sanford Police Blue & You barbecue July 26, which supports local families as they prepare for the upcoming school year. Members assisted Community Relations Unit officers and provided each child with a backpack full of school supplies. The department had collected supplies at their Sanford Police CRAM the CRUISER event and had received various donations.
Pictured are members Victoria Huggins and Libby Jett with Officer Toni Torres.