North Central District

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Written by Carolyn Robbins

On April 6, Winter Garden Elks Lodge #2165 participated in the downtown Winter Garden Spring Fling. They sold hamburgers and hot dogs and raised $3,000 for the Elks National Foundation.

Pictured are members Joe Fennessey, Brad Moore, Carol Cothern and Gina Denison.

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Written by Suzanne Cunningham

On April 23, six Eustis Anna Miller Circle members and two Eustis Elks met to pack $2,703.54 worth of items for The Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties. They packed 100 children's welcome kits, containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, lip gloss, soap, shampoo, tissue packs and handheld toys. They also packed 100 adult welcome kits, containing soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, deodorant and a shaver. The kits are given to women and their children when they arrive at the safe house. Additionally, 17 birthday kits of cake mix, frosting and candles were donated for mothers to make their child a birthday cake while at the house. The Anna Miller Circle provided $226 worth of items for assault packs for the Haven nurses to provide replacement clothes for rape survivors, which include soap, shampoo, flip-flops, T-shirts, sports bras, underwear, crackers, Gatorade, water and snacks. 

Pictured are Ralph Cerney (Elk), Gwelda Donesky, Patty Mitchell, Beverly Dufresne, Mary Ann Cerney (chair of the Haven Project), Judy Eaton, and Butch Danesky (Elk).

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Written by Suzanne Cunningham

Eustis Lodge’s Anna Miller Circle held its annual auction March 17-24 to raise funds for children in need to attend summer camp at the Florida Elks Youth Camp. Thanks to the support of Circle members, lodge members and the community, they prepared 78 items, which included baskets, antiques and gift certificates. They sold $1,827 worth of tickets and donations. Chair Beverly Dufresne thanks the members who packaged and displayed everything. The lodge sold tickets at every event held during the week preceding the drawing. 

Pictured are the tables full of auction items.

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Written by Suzanne Cunningham

Starting in November, the Eustis Anna Miller Circle sponsored a Christmas angel tree. Circle members and lodge members donated wrapped gifts for 72 students at Eustis Elementary School. The principal said this donation, which filled three cars, was the largest donation during the holidays for the children in her five years as principal. 

The gifts were delivered to the school counselor Dec. 14 by Suzanne Cunningham; Beverely Dufresne, Anna Miller Circle president; Cindy Bennett, angel tree chair; Joyce Collier, Anna Miller and lodge member; and Rick Bennett, lodge member.

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Written by Suzanne Cunningham

On Nov. 16, members of the Eustis Elks Lodge’s Anna Miller Circle #1578 packed 25 Thanksgiving dinners for Eustis Elementary students and their families. Included in the dinner packages were instant potatoes, canned vegetables, sweet potatoes, cranberries, gravy, stuffing, dessert mixes and a gift certificate to purchase the meat of their choice at a grocery store. All food items were donated by members of the Anna Miller Circle and Eustis Lodge. Yvonne Spikes made a generous donation to ensure all meals were completed for each family, and United Southern Bank provided the bags in which to pack the dinners. 

The food packages were delivered to Eustis Elementary Nov. 17, the last school day before the holiday break, by Anna Miler member Judi MacCarroll and Elk Tom McCarroll. Carrie White, Eustis Elementary counselor, accepted them. Also pictured are the packages. The donation is valued at $1,500.