On Dec. 3, members and volunteers from Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge #1892 partnered with the city of Green Cove Springs for the annual Christmas on Walnut Street festival. Lodge members greeted families and provided gift bags, which included books, toys and candy canes, for 350 children. Lodge volunteers helped organize and pack the items Nov. 19; they were purchased by the lodge with matching grant funds from the Florida State Elks Association. The lodge also distributed more than 400 gift bags containing facial products, obtained by Florida Elks Charities, to the parents and grandparents attending the event with their children.
Pictured are lodge volunteers awaiting the arrival of Santa and the children.
On Nov. 16, Gainesville Elks Lodge #990 used its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to donate turkeys and gift cards to One More Child for Thanksgiving dinners for 33 families with foster children. One More Child is a nonprofit organization that assists children and families in need with programs for foster care, anti-trafficking, child hunger, single mothers and family support. Pictured are Louis Mallory, Exalted Ruler; Dina Atalig, lodge Beacon Grant administrator; Glen Gardner, PDD, lodge grants coordinator; and Demetri Semper and Lois Lembke from One More Child.
On Sept. 20, Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge #1892 Past Exalted Rulers hosted a special bingo night in support of K9s For Warriors, an organization that trains and provides service dogs for military veterans. Thanks to the generosity of the volunteers, players and the Past Exalted Rulers Association, a donation of $4,000 was presented to Stephanie Vogt, K9s For Warriors representative, pictured in the center along with some lodge members and players as well as non-member players.
On Sept. 11, the Florida Ladies of Elks Eland chapter of St. Augustine Elks Lodge #829, in conjunction with Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge #1892, held a fashion show and luncheon in support of Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services and the Florida Elks Youth Camp. Lodge members modeled the fashions and helped prepare the luncheon. Linda Rittenhouse, PSP-FLOE and Judy Reyes, PSP-FLOE planned the event, which raised $778.
Pictured are Nancy Klopfenstein, member; Patsy Weston, House Committee member; Judy Reyes, PSP-FLOE; Tiffany Rupp, fashion show consultant; Shirley Orvosh, volunteer; and Barbara Thompson, Leading Knight. Also pictured are Thresa Hurley, volunteer; Lynn Elrod, Loyal Knight; Pat Buerhaus, kitchen manager; Bonnie Conti, Inner Guard; and Jeff Phillips, member, preparing lunch, along with guests enjoying lunch before the show.
Jacksonville Elks Lodge members donated approximately $300 in school supplies for Hogan Spring-Glen Elementary School.
Member Sarah Schllesinger, pictured in the center in blue, led the collection during the Christmas-in-July event July 30. She is pictured with other lodge members.