Cocoa Beach Elks Lodge #2387 supports numerous programs at Cocoa Beach High School and presented a $1,000 donation to the school's Army JROTC minutemen battalion during their annual military ball April 22. The donation will be used to offset expenses related to off-campus competitions and travel. The CBHS JROTC organization has tremendous adult and cadet leadership. Pictured are Lt. Col. (R) Jim Desjardin, senior Army instructor; Battalion Commander Cadet/LTC Nico Lanza; Ed Circierski, PER; Jim Dickson, Youth Activities Chair; and Billy Wirth, Exalted Ruler.
On Feb. 23rd, Cocoa Elks Lodge #1532 donated a Firefly chair to Macy, a local child with the rare disease Miller-Dieker Syndrome. Her new chair will enable this lovely 4-year-old to sit up independently. Her parents wrote a thank-you to the lodge, saying, "We can’t thank you enough for her amazing chair!! This is going to allow her to feel more inclusive.” This donation was made possible with funds from the Florida State Elks matching Beacon grant.
Through several March charity events, Cocoa Lodge raised $2,000 for the Cocoa Police Department for their Cocoa Community First program. Lodge member Lynn Yawn is pictured with members of the Cocoa Police Department.
In March, Cocoa Lodge raised $1,750 through several charity events to donate to The Children’s Hunger Project. Lodge members Beth Scarborough and Bonnie Pippin present the donation to Cheryl Cominsky and Stacy Benezra.
At the end of March, Cocoa Elks Lodge #1532 held an Elvis impersonator charity event and raised $1,500 for The Family Promise of Brevard. The Family Promise's goal is to empower families experiencing homelessness to create a path toward stable, long-term housing and provide peace and security along the journey. Pictured are Jane Higgins of Family Promise and lodge member Marlene Weiss.