On Aug. 11, Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge #1892 used a portion of the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to provide 25 tote bags to the local senior center. Each patriotic-themed bag contained snacks, household items and a grocery store gift card.
Pictured are Bob Russell, House Committee chair; Lynn Elrod, Exalted Ruler; and Dianne Schwab, senior center advisory council member.
On Sept. 2, Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge #1892 held a dock party in support of their lodge scholarship fund. Attended by almost 200 members and guests, the event raised $2,300.
Orange Park Elks Lodge #2605 held its annual fall school supplies drive for Ortega Elementary School, a Title I school in Jacksonville, Florida. Members donated supplies throughout August. On Sept. 6, Alise Taylor-Sindab, Exalted Ruler, delivered the more than 288 items, including notebook paper, spiral notebooks, pencils, folders, backpacks, markers, erasers, pencils, pencil sharpeners and crayons.
Pictured are Traci Taylor, parent liaison; Michelle Tibbitts, paraprofessional; and Alise Taylor-Sindab, Exalted Ruler.
On Aug. 17, Jacksonville Lodge presented an American Heritage Corner to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. Ninety people were in attendance, including community members, fire department members and lodge members. Documents in the American Heritage Corner include the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, Monroe Doctrine, Gettysburg Address, Elks Resolution on Law and Order, and Elks Declaration of American Principles. Randy Wyse, President of International Association of Firefighters Jacksonville Local 122 and 32-year JFRD veteran, assisted in organizing the event.
Pictured are Carla Ray Rhymes, Americanism Lodge Chair; Tony Langals, Americanism Committee member and Inner Guard; and Ron Snelling, PER, retired JFRD firefighter.
On July 27, Jacksonville Elks Lodge #221 presented a certificate of honor to Duval Asphalt, an American-owned and Jacksonville-based company for properly flying the American flag. Duval Asphalt displays the largest flag in Jacksonville, and it is a significant icon in the city. Its presence commands immediate attention from those driving nearby and Naval aviation pilots flying into NAS Jacksonville. This company routinely replaces the flag to keep a crisp, beautiful flag displayed at all hours, and the flag’s presence instills patriotism and pride in workers at Duval Asphalt and other nearby businesses.
Pictured are Ralph DeCicco, PER; Karen Tracy, Veterans Chair; Mitchell Gant, Duval Asphalt VP; Paul Jergensen Duval Asphalt president; Bob Morgan, Flag Day Chair; Jennifer Garrett, Duval Asphalt director of marketing and business development; Tony Langals, Inner Guard and Americanism Committee member; Carla Ray Rhymes, Americanism Chair; Eli Smith, future Elk; Kayla Smith, lodge member; and Robin Pipkins, Leading Knight.