South Southwest District

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Written by Linda N. Killian

The Deep Creek Ladies of Elks donated three $3,000 scholarships Dec. 18 with funds generated from the Show Me the Money game, played every Monday. The recipients are all attending Charlotte Technical College in Port Charlotte. To date, the Ladies have given 19 scholarships to this college’s students, nine of which were in this fiscal year, all from this game. The recipients are Josue Cruz, enterprise desktop; Taylor Haddox, dental assistant; and Kridesha Symonette, dental assistant. 

Ladies of Elks pictured with Josue Cruz, recipient, third from left, are Pam Setchell, Vice President; Karen Rohm, past president; Kathleen Flecken, Inner Guard; Karen Moerlein, Secretary; Lucia Cimorelli; Audrey Egalton; Katie Ware; Kerry Russell; and Julie Moyer.

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Written by Naples Elks

On Dec. 7, Naples Elks Lodge #2010 sponsored its annual Christmas party at Manatee Elementary School for second graders. Santa Claus (member Robert Cedar), pictured, delivered sweatshirts, backpacks, coloring books, crayons and games for the students, all provided by the lodge. They also enjoyed a pizza party, with ice cream for dessert. The lodge used its $4,000 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to fund the event.

Pictured in the front row are members Sharon Anderson, Julia Hartford, Gerri Massey, Lynn Malpede, Margie Heinzel and Mike Adamski, PER. In the back row are members Brian Kamp; Holly Ludwig, Exalted Ruler; Marilyn Jeffries; Arlene Hansen, Secretary; Rae Frey; and Ron Heldebrandt, PDD.

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Written by Diane Hendrick

Fort Myers Lodge participated in the Salvation Army angel tree project for 20 local children. Members and guests took tags from the tree and purchased toys and clothes or donated monetarily to the program. In addition, the lodge purchased $1,500 worth of clothes and toys for the children. On Dec. 18, several members helped distribute the gifts to more than 3,000 angels at the Fort Myers Salvation Army warehouse.

Irma Spencer, Kay Tvrdik, Janet Helm-Adams, Kathy Lake and Diane Hendrick, pictured, loaded their carts with a family’s gifts and transferred them to the loading dock for others to load the family’s vehicle.

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Written by Judy Hopkins, PER

On Nov. 20, Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge #2781 presented the Pine Island Food Pantry with a $4,000 Beacon Grant and a $2,000 Spotlight Grant, both from the Elks National Foundation, and canned goods, which were donated by lodge members. For the fifth year in a row, the lodge secured these grants to benefit the Pine Island Food Pantry holiday program. This year’s $6,000 donation brings the past five years of cash contributions to $22,000 for the program.

Pictured in the front are Bonnie Potter, pantry director and spouse of an Elk; Marcella Betterly, widow of an Elk; Judy Hopkins, PER, Exalted Ruler; member Cheryl Combs; and Denise Selby, pantry rep. in the back row are members Bob Hoogstra, John Hotzfield and Darlene Wienefski.

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Written by Diane Hendrick

On Oct. 30, the Fort Myers #1288 Ladies of Elks presented a $500 check to Partners for Breast Cancer Care Inc. This unique organization is dedicated to funding breast screening, diagnostic testing, surgery and treatment for uninsured, women and men with low incomes in southwest Florida at no cost to them. This donation came from the Ladies of Elks Sunday bingo proceeds from October.

Pictured are Janet Darnell, executive director; Kathy Lake, Ladies President; Suzanne McHugh, Ladies Vice President; and Jessica Grau, case manager.