Jacksonville Elks Lodge #221 hosted a children’s Christmas party Dec. 10 for families from Hogan Spring-Glen Elementary School. With the support of UPS, the United Methodist Church and the use of the lodge's Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant, the lodge provided gifts from wish lists, grocery store gift cards for Christmas dinner and many other donated items to 15 families in need. Author David Gaslin took time with each child and gave them a signed copy of his children’s book. Santa made an appearance as well as Elroy the Elk. Children made ornaments and picture frames, decorated cookies, and had their photos taken with Santa. Lunch and desserts were provided.
Pictured are Santa greeting the children and Elroy the Elk with David Graham, Exalted Ruler.
Hayden Heavener, representing Jacksonville Elks Lodge #221, won first place for boys ages 10-11 at the North regional Hoop Shoot Jan. 28 at Columbia High School in Lake City, Florida. He made 19 out of 25 baskets, tying with another contestant, and then won the tiebreaker, making four out of five baskets. He advances to the state Hoop Shoot. He also won first place at the Jacksonville Lodge Hoop Shoot and the Northeast District Hoop Shoot.
Pictured are Hayden Heavener and Elroy the Elk (from Lake City Lodge).
On Jan. 10, Green Cove Springs Lodge donated $1,000 from the Past Exalted Rulers charity bingo fund to Seamark Ranch, a working farm in Green Cove Springs that provides schooling and counseling in a family home setting to children in the foster care system or in crisis situations. The ranch has provided support to more than 100 children since opening its doors to children in need.
Pictured at the check presentation are Ed Weston, PER chair; Paul Orvosh, PDD, Lodge Treasurer; Brittany McGraw, Seamark Ranch events manager; and Al Williams, Exalted Ruler.
On Jan. 6, Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge #1892 donated $1,783 of its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to the Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs, which has been providing support to the community for more than 30 years.
Pictured at the check presentation are Tracy Carroll, PER, lodge grants coordinator; Theresa and Ken Heselschwerdt, food pantry volunteers; and Al Williams, Exalted Ruler.
Green Cove Springs Lodge members and volunteers delivered more than 450 gift bags Dec. 16 to the faculty and staff members at several local schools and the local library. The bags contained donated facial products that were donated to Florida Elks Charities.
Pictured at W.E. Cherry Elementary School are Joshua Hogmire, assistant principal; Ed Weston, PER; Joy Elrod, Lecturing Knight; Michelle Solomon, school secretary; Michelle Mister, teacher; Shannon Scott, school staff member; Al Williams, Exalted Ruler; and Lester Booker, school resource officer.