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Florida Elks News Editor:
Rachael King
Entire contents copyright 2020 by the
Florida State Elks Association Inc.
P.O. Box 49
Umatilla, FL 32784-0049
P.O. Box 49
Umatilla, FL 32784-0049
352-669-9443
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South Southwest District
Deep Creek Ladies of Elks Collect Gifts and Groceries for Big Brothers/Big Sisters
- Details
- Written by Karen Rohm
Pictured with the gifts are Sharon Bienvenue; Linda Killian, public relations; Helga Kuzmik, chaplain; Karen Rohm, president; Sue Crady, vice president; Judy Smith; Mary Gail Phillips, secretary; Kathie Flecken; Tammy Britt; Linda Schumacher; Sue Bemister; Cathy Chartan, treasurer; and Wanda Morris.
Pictured with the grocery donations are Sharon Bienvenue, Helga Kuzmik, Sue Crady, Linda Killian, Sue Bemister, Tammy Britt, Judy Smith, Wanda Morris, Karen Rohm, Linda Schumacher and Kathie Flecken.
For many years, the Deep Creek Ladies of Elks have sponsored an Angel Tree for the children from the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Charlotte County, Florida. This year, Melissa Nelson, Director, informed them that these children and their families had been adversely affected by the pandemic and therefore each child was asking for only one gift and nonperishable food for their families. On Nov. 2, the Angel Tree was set up and decorated with pearl angels made by member Judi Anderson. On Nov. 4, tags with 115 children’s names and wishes were put on the tree. A mere two weeks later, the last tag was removed. By Dec. 9, all gifts had been returned and there was a plethora of nonperishable food. On Dec. 10, Big Brother/Big Sister volunteers came to pick everything up. On the first trip, a large SUV was packed full with gifts. They returned with the SUV and a pickup truck for the food. In addition to all this, Deep Creek Lodge donated 115 gift cards totaling $2,300 from Publix so the families could purchase perishable foods for their holiday dinner.
Salvation Army Food Pantry Receives Grant from Fort Myers Lodge
- Details
- Written by Diane Hendrick
On Sept. 24, Fort Myers Lodge officers presented its $3,000 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to Major Tim Gilliam of the Salvation Army pantry in Fort Myers, Florida. Food pantry personnel try to help everyone who comes to the Outreach Service Center for food. Pictured are Eric Lane, campaign and partnership manager of the Salvation Army; Alan Anderson, Loyal Knight; Roger Spencer, Exalted Ruler; Major Gilliam; and David Lake, Past State President.
Fort Myers Lodge Presents Grant to Community Cooperative
- Details
- Written by Diane Hendrick
On Sept. 24, Fort Myers Elks Lodge #1288 donated its $4,000 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to the Community Cooperative in Fort Myers, Florida. The mission of Community Cooperative is to eliminate hunger and homelessness in Lee County while simultaneously inspiring and supporting sustained positive change in its clients by delivering innovative food, education and social service programs. Pictured are Alan Anderson, Loyal Knight; David Lake, Past State President; Stefani Ink-Edwards of the Community Cooperative; and Roger Spencer, Exalted Ruler.
Rotonda Elks Uses Grants to Fill Food Pantries
- Details
- Written by Rotonda Elks
Using a $2,000 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant, Rotonda Elks Lodge #2710 is purchasing $500 worth of food a month in July, August, September and October for the food bank of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church’s Outreach Program in Grove City, Florida. Matt Egan, director of the St. Francis Outreach Program, gives them a list of needed foods. July shoppers were Cheryl Culpan, Jeanne Karellas and Debbie Sommers, Lodge Secretary. August shoppers included Vickie Annabelle-Nine, assistant secretary; Francie Brown and her sister, Betty; and Debbie Sommers. Pictured are September shoppers, Debbie Sommers and Vickie Annabelle-Nine.
Rotonda Lodge will use $2,000 from its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant ($1,000 from Elks National Foundation and $1,000 from a matching grant from the Florida State Elks Association) to buy $500 worth of food and personal hygiene items a month for September, October, November and December for the Englewood Helping Hand food pantry in Englewood, Florida. Volunteers in September were Jean Humphreys, PER; Vickie Annabelle-Nine and Debbie Sommers.
Punta Gorda Elks Use Two Grants to Assist Two Food Banks
- Details
- Written by Punta Gorda Elks
Using $1,305.31 of its $2,000 Gratitude Grant, Punta Gorda Elks Lodge #2606 donated food to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank in Punta Gorda, Florida, and the Jesus Loves You Ministry in Port Charlotte, Florida, a mobile outreach program for those experiencing homelessness. A large microwave was also delivered to the Jesus Loves You Ministry using $230 from the Gratitude Grant. In addition, the lodge donated $1,500 from its $3,500 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to St. Vincent de Paul for a new freezer. Food deliveries were made Aug. 31 and the microwave was delivered Sept. 3.
Pictured delivering food to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank are Judy Nuetzel, South Southwest District Vice President, and Fred Nuetzel, Exalted Ruler. Also pictured are two food bank volunteers whose names were unavailable. Fred Nuetzel is also pictured delivering food with a volunteer from Jesus Loves You Ministry and presenting a check for the freezer to a volunteer from St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank. Ambrose Yelovich, PER pictured with volunteer James Hicks delivers a large microwave to the Jesus Loves You Ministry.
Englewood Elks Sponsor Florida High Heat Baseball Team
- Details
- Written by Carolyn Sutherland
On Sept. 15, Sean Kirsten of High Heat Travel Baseball was presented a $1,000 check from Englewood Lodge to sponsor a traveling Florida High Heat Baseball team. Florida High Heat Baseball is a travel baseball organization based in Englewood, Florida, for boys ages 16 and under. The league’s goal is to be the most affordable travel baseball in southwest Florida. Pictured are Carolyn Sutherland, Exalted Ruler, and Kirsten.
Englewood Helping Hand Receives Donation from Englewood Elks Lodge
- Details
- Written by Carolyn Sutherland
Englewood Elks Lodge #2378 donated its $2,000 Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant to Englewood Helping Hand (EHH). This donation is to help EHH cover some of the food costs related to the increased volume of food-insecure residents of Charlotte and Sarasota counties in Florida due to the pandemic. Comprehensive data shows that at least 70,700 people in these counties are food-insecure. EHH also provides utility assistance to residences of the Englewood, Florida, community. Pictured at the check presentation are Mark Rennie, board president; Carolyn Sutherland, Exalted Ruler; and Judy Abbott, Secretary and Elks National Foundation Fundraising Lodge Chair.
Bonita Springs-Estero Lodge Immediately Applies for ENF Gratitude Grant and Gives it to Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida
- Details
- Written by Dr. Judith MacGregor
Getting off to a quick start in the new lodge year, Bonita Springs-Estero Lodge applied for an Elks National Foundation (ENF) Gratitude Grant April 1, the day the ENF opened applications. The Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida received the donation of $2,000 that was approved within hours of the grant application. This was a new offering by the ENF to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The highly successful food bank was able to provide $8 of food for every $1 donated by partnering with local food stores for surpluses.
Using Spotlight Grant, Bonita Springs-Estero Lodge Holds Baby Shower for Our Mother's House Residents
- Details
- Written by Dr. Judith MacGregor
Our Mother’s Home was the recipient of Bonita Springs-Estero Lodge’s Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant of $2,000. This organization is a shelter located in Estero, Florida, for girls ages 12 to 19 who are pregnant through abuse, rape or trafficking. The lodge held a community shower luncheon Feb. 17 to coincide with a school holiday so the young ladies could attend with lodge members and friends who brought baby supplies and toys. Grant funds were used to purchase larger items, carriers, bedding and other supplies. In addition, a literacy program conducted by the education director from Estero’s public library was included in the event.
Bonita Springs-Estero Elks Give Two Grants to New Horizons of Southwest Florida and Volunteer with Programs
- Details
- Written by Dr. Judith MacGregor
In the past fiscal Elks year, New Horizons of Southwest Florida has been the recipient of Elks National Foundation Beacon and Gratitude grants from Bonita Springs-Estero Elks Lodge #2753 totaling $4,500. It is an independent faith-based organization in Lee and Collier counties in Florida dedicated to improving education of children in grades K-12 who are at risk and below the poverty level by providing after-school volunteers who serve as tutors, mentors and aids at local churches. Funds from these two grants have been used to purchase computers, provide internet access at local sites so the kids can complete their homework, and purchase materials for a literacy reading summer camp. Lodge members are among the dedicated volunteers for the program that starts in June with reading camp and continued through mid-March when it went online due to the pandemic. Pictured Nov. 21, 2019, is Mr. Omar helping students at a computer lab.
Englewood Elks Award Seven Scholarships to High School Seniors
- Details
- Written by Englewood Elks
Englewood Elks Lodge #2378 awarded seven scholarships to high school seniors which were announced May 20 at a virtual awards presentation by the high school. Normally, lodge members attend the senior award night to present the scholarships, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, the scholarship committee informed the school of the winners and the school handled the distribution. Carly Brzostek and Austin Scheetz will each receive $3,000 per year for four years. Brzostek will be attending Marymount Manhattan College and majoring in the film industry, and Scheetz will be attending Florida Southern College and majoring in computer and informational sciences. The winner of the Bill Wellbaum Memorial Scholarship in the same amount is Aidan Moore. Moore hopes to attend the University of South Florida and plans to major in civil engineering. Four students were awarded $1,000 vocational scholarships – Etienne Beaugrand will study nursing at Suncoast Technical College, Adam Berry will study to become an emergency medical technician at Charlotte Technical College, Caleb Joyce will pursue automotive studies at Charlotte Technical College, and Abigail Parker will study cosmetology at Charlotte Technical College.
Homeless Coalition Receives Much-Needed Donation to Feed Community from Deep Creek Elks
- Details
- Written by Deep Creek Elks
On April 1, the Elks National Foundation made applications available for the Gratitude Grant for 2020-2021. This money was to be used to directly address community needs during the coronavirus pandemic. The lodge knew who to contact as their recipient – Tina Figliuola, Chief Executive Officer for the Homeless Coalition in Charlotte County, Florida. For years, they have run a program that provides a hot meal every evening for anyone who shows up. When they talked to her, the program was feeding 125 people every night. By the time the lodge was able to present her with the $2,000 grant April 8, the numbers had grown so large that they had partnered with Jesus Loves You Ministries to be able to feed all who came. Lodge members Ron Steelman and Patrick McCarthy delivered the check.