North Central District

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Written by Inverness Elks

Inverness Lodge used their Elks National Foundation Anniversary Grant to help fund a new project for the Citrus County Education Foundation, Supplies 4 Success. This program is designed to provide a central location for county teachers to pick up school and special project supplies for their students. The $1,500 grant was presented to the CCEF at their new facility located at the Withlacoochee Technical College in Inverness.

Pictured are Anthony Kopka, Inverness Lodge board chairman; Paula Pombier, lodge grant coordinator; Richard Grosnick, Leading Knight; Shaunda Burdett, CCEF Executive Director; and Susan Franmpton, CCEF Associate Director.

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Written by Eustis Elks

Eustis Lodge hosted a breakfast the Saturday before school started to honor 40 teachers and principals from nine area elementary schools. The lodge used the Anniversary Grant to provide 750 lbs. of school supplies to the schools. Lake County Sheriff, Peyton Grinnell, was the keynote speaker. Mark Cunningham made their drug awareness table available, and Trustee Ron Locke and Exalted Ruler, Patsy Despain, made presentations to the group. The lodge also cooks dinner to feed the Eustis High School junior varsity football team and their coaches before each game.

The Eustis Anna Miller Ladies donated $2,000 to Florida Elks Children's Therapy Services and donated $500 in school supplies to a local school.

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Written by Eustis Elks

On Aug. 4, Eustis Lodge Exalted Ruler, Patsy Despain, presented the Tri-City Ballers with a check for $1,500. Leader/Coach Walt Canady accepted the check and in turn gave the lodge a beautiful thank-you trophy.

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Written by Suzanne Cunningham

Ten Eustis Anna Miller members and seven Eustis Elks met Sunday, Sept. 23, to pack $5,619-worth of donations for The Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties. This included 332 welcome kits of travel-sized toiletries, 10 birthday cake kits, a child's bike, children's books, toys, children’s and adult clothes, and many more items. This trip filled three SUVs. This collection put their combined contributions to The Haven at over $66,000.  

Domestic violence is a serious problem.  It affects millions of people and their children every year. The Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties has served 3,070 survivors/children in 2017-2018 via shelter and hotline services. The Eustis Anna Miller members are honored to continue to be of service to them.

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Written by Jan Belland

Inverness Lodge’s simple project to fund swimming lessons and donate water-safety equipment to their local YMCA transformed into a half-day water-safety expo. In unison with other organizations, the lodge provided 120 Coast Guard-approved life vests and water-safety advice. In addition, the lodge gave the opening address and manned an Elk information booth which featured the Dragon Boat Festival.

A YMCA staff member fits a child with a life vest donated by Inverness Elks Lodge.