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Southwest District
Church Receives Donation from South Hillsborough Elks to Feed Children in Need
- Details
- Written by South Hillsborough Elks
On May 24, South Hillsborough Elks Lodge members presented Pastor Sam Rorer of the United Methodist Church a check for $2,500 from their Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant. The money will be used exclusively to provide healthy, nutritious meals for children in the immediate area who are underprivileged. The church feeds 25-35 children every Monday evening. Pictured are Grace Bibisi, lodge trustee; Joyce Dominick-Schaefer, lodge grant coordinator; Pastor Rorer; and Steve Conrad, Exalted Ruler.
Manasota Elks Work within Pandemic Limitations to Deliver Holiday Gifts and Meals to Families in Need
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- Written by Diane Davis
In the past, Manasota Elks Lodge #2734 has had Breakfast with Santa for community families in need. Unfortunately, this was not possible this past year due to the pandemic. Disappointed, lodge members brainstormed and talked to the two schools they partner with and came up with a solution. The lodge used Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant funds to fill a box with toiletries, candy, toys, $15 McDonald’s gift certificates for each child, Christmas dinner items and a $25 Winn-Dixie gift certificate to purchase a turkey for distribution to 26 families in need at Abel Elementary School and Oneco Elementary School. Lodge members Diane Davis, Spike Klocke, Linda Schultz, Pauline Snyder and Shawn Wheaton sorted, wrapped and packed the items for delivery to each Title 1 school. School staff members distributed the boxes the last day of school before the winter break. The lodge received posters and letters thanking them for the generous gifts.
Pictured Dec. 17 at Abel Elementary School are Denise Troche, staff member; Diane Davis, Leading Knight; Don Wheaton, trustee; Jan "Spike" Klocke, lodge member; Jim Klocke, trustee; Shawn Wheaton, lodge member; and Mary Lauderdale, staff member.
Pictured Dec. 18 at Oneco Elementary school are Eileen Popecki, staff member; Davida Phillips, staff member; Jan "Spike" Klocke, lodge member; Jim Klocke, trustee; Don Wheaton, trustee; Marie Mueller, staff member, lodge member, and N.U.B.S. Community Service co-advisor; Shawn Wheaton, lodge member; and Diane Davis, Leading Knight.
Manatee County Children's Services Receives $7,000 from Bradenton Elks
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- Written by Bob Erwin, PDD
On Nov. 14, Bradenton Elks Lodge #1511 donated $7,000 to Manatee County Children's Services, a Manatee County, Florida, charity that maintains three group homes, a homeless shelter, and many other abuse, prevention, workshops, counseling and advocacy programs. The funds were made possible through a $3,500 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant and a matching Florida State Elks Association grant. Pictured are Dave Manning, PDD; ER, Bradenton 1511 and Marcie Lacy, Residential Director, Manatee County Children's Services
East Manatee County Fire District First Responders Receive 77 Dozen Cookies from Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks
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- Written by Rick Thorson, PER
On Nov. 25, Joanne DiCarlo and Rick and Kay Thorson, representing Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855, distributed 924 cookies to first responders in the East Manatee County Fire District with a note on top that read, "We are Thankful for You." The cookies were greatly appreciated by the various teams. This is something the lodge has done for the last six years.
Elementary School Receives Much Needed Supplies from Manasota Lodge
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- Written by Diane Davis
Manasota Elks Lodge #2734 has proudly formed a partnership with Florine J. Abel Elementary School, a Title 1 school in Sarasota, Florida, which means the school has a large segment of students who come from families with low incomes. The school reached out to the lodge for help, and the members responded quickly to their first collaborative project — donating school supplies. Because the donation box in the lodge filled quickly, members delivered the supplies to the school July 30. Pictured in the front row are Samantha Webb, principal, and Mary Lauderdale, fourth grade teacher. Lodge members in the back row are Diane Davis, Ken Davis, Robin Hutchins, Pam McDowell and Dale Steinke.
Sarasota South Lodge Provides Books and Toys as Motivation for Students Distance Learning
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- Written by Jim Lamb, PDD
During the coronavirus pandemic, Sarasota South Elks Lodge #2495 has been carrying out a unique program to serve students’ needs while they learn from home. In April, 1,900 educational toys were donated to help encourage children in prekindergarten through eighth grade with their distance learning and as an incentive to complete their assignments online. In June, 2,500 books were donated for the students as well. Teachers from three schools in Sarasota, Venice and Bradenton came to the Elks’ storeroom near the lodge to pick up the toys and books. They take them to their schools to hand out to the students as they pick up their lunches. The teachers handle this because they know which children are in need and their reading levels. To date, approximately 2,900 toys and 3,500 books have been donated, and each student receives a book and a toy. This project was supported by lodge members and members of the community as well as by businesses, Toys for Tots, a book company and Venice-Nokomis Elks Lodge. Because of the lodge’s visibility and community support, they have even gained new members. Pictured June 10 at the lodge storeroom are Jim Lamb, PDD, Sarasota South Lodge member and coordinator of Toys for Tots, and Marie Mueller of Oneco Elementary School.
The Food Bank of Manatee Gets $2,000 Boost from Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge
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- Written by Brett Davis, PDD
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 used their $2,000 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant May 19 to support The Food Bank of Manatee in this time of unprecedented demand related to the coronavirus economic situation. These funds would normally be used by the lodge program Elks Feeding Empty Little Tummies (EFELT), but since the program is temporarily suspended because of school closures, the lodge decided to help the food bank. The food bank has stepped in and is helping to feed many of the same children EFELT would normally serve. Maribeth Phillips, Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee CEO, received the check on behalf of the Food Bank of Manatee from Clayton Wakefield, lodge member and EFELT east coordinator (Bradenton Lodge services the west side). Pictured at the right is Jerry Ditty, Exalted Ruler.
Manasota and Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodges Celebrate Red Ribbon Week at Elementary Schools
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- Written by Diane Davis
Diane Davis, Manasota Elks Lodge #2734 Drug Awareness Chair, and Dawn Markham, aka Elroy the Elk from Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855, greeted students each morning or at lunchtime at eight elementary schools in Manasota County during the 2019 Red Ribbon Week in October. The students loved Elroy’s visit and received many hugs! There were 5,000 red ribbons distributed to all staff members in the Manatee County schools as well as to the school bus drivers to wear during Red Ribbon Week. The schools held various activities during Red Ribbon Week to promote the 2019 theme of Send a Message - Stay Drug Free! Pictured with students at Oneco Elementary School are Marie Mueller and Diane Davis of Manasota Lodge. Elroy is played by Dawn Markham of Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge.
Sarasota South Lodge Hosts Toys for Tots Volunteers
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- Written by Rose Wujcik
Sarasota South Elks Lodge #2495 treated the volunteers of the Toys for Tots program to a dinner Jan. 22. There were volunteers from the lodge as well as from Venice-Nokomis Elks Lodge #1854, VFW Post 3233, and the volunteers from Charlotte County. Jim Lamb, PDD from Sarasota South Lodge has been the coordinator for the Marine Corp Toys for Tots for Sarasota County since 2009. This year he was also responsible for Charlotte County. A total of 153,031 toys, 5,016 books and 8,755 Christmas stocking stuffers were passed out to families from the two counties totaling $2,937,258.86. During the campaign there were 68 Elks and 39 non-Elks who worked on the project for a total of $431,678.65 in-kind dollars that were given back to the community. Pictured are Jim Lamb, PDD; Ruth Rankin and Liz Watson.
Bradenton Lodge Hosts Christmas Party for Local Children
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- Written by Bob Erwin
Bradenton Elks Lodge #1511 held a Christmas party for 100 local kids and their families Dec. 14 using the $2,500 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant and a matching funds grant from the Florida State Elks Association. Members also donated over $7,500 in support of the lodge’s Angel Tree project. The event was in support of Manatee Children's Services, Guardian Ad-Litem and St. Vincent DePaul Society. Pictured are Santa and his elves – Cayenne LaDere; Terry Dinius, event chairperson; Valarie LaDere; Janet Mitchell, PER; Robin Nelson and Viki Callahan.
Venice-Nokomis Elks Deliver Holiday Dinner and Gifts to Local Families
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- Written by Andrice Nelson
On Nov. 12 and Dec. 9, Venice-Nokomis Elks Lodge #1854 packed 80 food baskets for Thanksgiving dinners and 80 for Christmas dinners and were delivered to a local elementary school and dropped off to the guidance counselors to protect the privacy of the recipients in need. The lodge also provided 31 families with toys for Christmas. Again, the guidance counselors were of help providing the lodge with a list of first names and ages of children. All this was accomplished using their Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant.
Venice-Nokomis Lodge members Laura Wood, Sherie Gillum, Tom Hart, Lisa Hart, Randy Brown, Barbara Greensburg, June Appleget, Karen Lumplin, Diane Theis and Linda Eaker pack Thanksgiving dinner packages.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge Hosts Cocktails for a Cause
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- Written by Brett Davis, PDD
On Nov. 8, hundreds gathered at Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 to celebrate Cocktails for a Cause. The event, benefiting the 14th annual Community Shoe Box Drive and Reception, had guest bartenders competing for tips, a holiday inspired raffle and lots of wrapped boxes ready to be filled. “We started collecting shoeboxes in 2006 to help needy seniors,” said Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee CEO, Maribeth Phillips. “Gifts of toiletries, trinkets, and small necessities will be packed in a decorated shoebox and delivered to home-bound seniors through our organization.” The event raised $1,570.
Pictured are Brett Davis, PDD; Bianca Murak and Michelle Meegan of Tidemark Financial; Kathy Martella, Meals on Wheels PLUS board member; and Andy Guz, CEO of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.