North Central District

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Written by Suzanne Cunningham

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Nine Eustis Anna Miller Circle members and four Eustis Lodge Elks met March 29 to pack a $4,397 donation for The Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties. The donation included 277 adult welcome kits and 118 children's welcome kits. The Haven, a shelter for abused women and their children as well as teens and rape survivors, provides a welcome kit of toiletries to each new client when they arrive at the shelter. The children's kits also contain hand sanitizer, a small toy and lip balm. In addition to the kits, this packing also included 69 items for school children, 17 birthday cake packets for children who find themselves in safe housing on their birthday, and 169 full-size toiletries.

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Written by Winter Park Elks

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Winter Park Elks Lodge #1830 is sponsoring 10 camperships at $180 each for children to attend a summer session at the Florida Elks Youth Camp. The lodge also purchased two tables at the Florida State Elks Association Harry-Anna Trust Unmasking Autism Gala of Hope at $2,500 each and was a gold sponsor for the softball tournament.

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Written by Eustis Elks

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Patsy Despain, Eustis Lodge Exalted Ruler, presents a $500 scholarship to Bionca Young for her LPN certification earned at Lake Tech State College. Pictured with them are Bill Stomp of the Eustis Lodge scholarship committee and Kimberly Frazier, Dean of Student Services at Lake Tech.

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Written by Nancy Jernigan

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On March 2, Winter Garden Elks Lodge #2165 held a fundraiser at the lodge for Orlando, Fla., police officer Kevin Valencia. He was shot in the line of duty June 18, 2018, while responding to a domestic violence call in which the suspect killed four children and then himself. Valencia had been at Good Shephard Hospital in Atlanta for treatment for his head injuries but was recently brought back home to Orlando to an undisclosed facility so he could be closer to his family. His recovery does not have a very promising future. He has a wife and two young children. The lodge fundraiser included barbecue dinners, raffles, and private donations and raised $21,000 for his family to help with the ongoing costs that they will have for a very long time.

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Written by Jan Belland

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Inverness Elks Lodge #2522 held their award presentation March 1 for Ava Rueck, winner of the state Drug Awareness essay contest. Ava is a sixth-grader at Lecanto Middle School. She and her family were invited to the lodge for dinner and the award presentation of a Kindle Fire, a framed certificate and a $50 check.

Pictured at the presentation at Inverness Lodge March 1 for the state Drug Awareness essay contest winner are George Sevast Jr., North Central District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler; Jim Manos, Inverness Lodge Drug Awareness Chairman; Ava Rueck, essay winner; and Bill McAvay, Exalted Ruler.