Winter Park Elks Lodge members provided Christmas gifts to 82 children who are in need or homeless. PER Vivian Thomas worked closely with Casselberry Elementary School principal, Mallory Holliday, who provided lodge members with the names, ages and sizes of the school's children in need along with their siblings. Members and volunteers shopped, wrapped, bagged and delivered the gifts to the school prior to the school's holiday break.
Delivering Christmas gifts to children in need at Casselberry Elementary are Ed Eldridge; Bill Cashion; Roberta Mills; PER Ron Goluba; Sue Jovi; assistant principal, Mary Walters-Clark; principal, Mallory Holliday; and Cam Mills.
Four-year trustee, Juanita Emrich, and PER Mike Orndorff represented Inverness Lodge in the decoration of a Christmas tree as part of the adopt-a-tree initiative under the direction of the Citrus County Parks and Recreation.
Inverness Lodge held its 2018-2019 Hoop Shoot contest Dec. 15 at the Inverness Middle School gym. There were 25 contestants representing Hernando, Central Ridge, Floral City, Pleasant Grove and Forest Ridge elementary schools and Inverness Middle School. Winners were Noah Meyer, boys ages 8-9; Rohan Patel, boys ages 10-11; Mark Covino, boys ages 12-13; Kasidee Florio, girls ages 8-9; Bryleigh Florio, girls ages 10-11; and Jenna Anderson, girls ages 12-13. Winners advance to the district competition in Tavares.
On Dec. 16, Inverness and West Citrus lodges hosted a holiday party for the children and foster families of the Citrus County Foster Parent Association. This is the fourth year that these lodges have completed the event. West Citrus Lodge provided the venue and the dinner; Inverness Lodge used the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to purchase gifts for the children. Inverness Lodge also provided the entertainment. Herbie Yates served as DJ, Mike Souci debuted as Santa and Jan Belland was Mrs. Claus. Tonya DeRose worked her magic with professional face-painting. Elk volunteers from both lodges worked diligently to make sure the families and children had a great holiday event.
On Dec. 15, Eustis Lodge held a Christmas party for Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services patients and others. Children made crafts and had fun on wooden horses. Bill Hall read “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” Santa Claus and his elf came to hand out gifts, and characters from the Star Wars movies took pictures with the guests.