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Southwest District
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge Hosts Fundraiser for Hooves with H.E.A.R.T.
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- Written by JoAnn Reddy
On March 4, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge held a vendor fair and breakfast to raise money for Hooves with H.E.A.R.T., which provides riding therapy for those with special needs. Proceeds came from vendors’ rental space fees, a 50/50, and donations made by members and visitors. A total of $1,016 was raised.
Pictured are Ginny Pellizzaro, left, and LeeAnn Reich, right, Hooves with H.E.A.R.T. volunteers, with member Sarah Davis, event coordinator.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge Hosts Fundraising Luau
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- Written by JoAnn Reddy
On Feb. 11, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 hosted a fundraising luau party, which featured authentic Hawaiian food, hula dancers and music. A total of $3,385 was raised for the Harry-Anna Trust Fund. Pictured are event chairs Kevin Burke, Lecturing Knight, and Marge Burke.
Children Visit with Santa at Bradenton Elks Lodge Christmas Party
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- Written by Bradenton Elks
Bradenton Elks Lodge #1511 hosted a children's Christmas party Dec. 10. There were 21 local families in attendance and 49 children received gift bags and lunch with Santa.
Pictured is Maddie Gordon whispering her wish list to Santa.
South Hillsborough Elks Hold Annual Angel Tree Program for Kids in Foster Care
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- Written by South Hillsborough Elks
South Hillsborough Lodge partnered with the Kiwanis Club to hold the annual Christmas Angel Tree program for children in foster care. On Dec. 16, gifts for 42 children were delivered to the Kiwanis Club.
Pictured are Grace Bibisi, PER, trustee, event chair, and Kim Przekop, President of the Southshore Kiwanis Club.
Manasota Elks Donate Shirts for Abel Elementary Walk-a-Thon
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- Written by Manasota Elks
Manasota Lodge partnered with Abel Elementary School after Mary Lauderdale, fourth grade teacher, advised them of their need for white T-shirts in various sizes for their second annual Color Splash Walk-a-Thon Nov. 18. Using the lodge’s matching Beacon Grant funds from the Florida State Elks Association, 125 white t-shirts were purchased and donated. This event is a school fundraiser where students solicit donations before walking in a walk-a-thon with classmates. While they walk a one-mile track, there are six stations where different volunteers and staff members throw colored powder at the kids. At the last station, each student receives a popsicle to enjoy with their classmates. The participants raised money for the school.
Pictured are Jan “Spike” Klocke, lodge grant coordinator; Shawn Wheaton, lodge member; Mary Lauderdale, Abel ES teacher; Jim Klocke, lodge trustee; Elizabeth “Liz” Gardini, Abel ES teacher; and Abigail Reeder, Abel ES teacher.
Painting Party at Manasota Elks Lodge Raises Funds for Florida Elks Youth Camp
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- Written by Manasota Elks
Manasota Elks Lodge #2734 hosted its second painting party at their lodge with member Cheri Arciniega as the instructor. There were 23 lodge members and seven guests who participated. Each chose to paint either a Christmas picture or a Florida picture. They had lots of fun while raising $165 for the Florida Elks Youth Camp. Pictured are participants with their paintings.
First Responders Enjoy Cookies from Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks
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- Written by JoAnn Reddy
On Dec. 10, Mary and Leon Duis, members of Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge, purchased and delivered cookie trays to 10 local fire departments in Sarasota and Manatee County. Every holiday season, the lodge provides various first responders with treats to thank them for their services.
Pictured are Lt. Rademan from Sarasota Fire Dept. and Leon Duis, lodge officer.
Shoeboxes for Manatee County Meals on Wheels Filled at Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge
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- Written by JoAnn Reddy
On Dec. 3, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge sponsored the Manatee County Meals on Wheels Shoebox gift event. More than 1,300 shoeboxes filled with presents for local seniors were donated. The event was held in the lodge and food was served to more than 150 people. In addition, $10,698 was raised through raffles, silent auction items, sponsorships and donations.
Pictured are Maribeth Phillips, president of Meals on Wheels Plus, and Brett Davis, Lodge Secretary.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Hold Hoop Shoot
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- Written by JoAnn Reddy
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge held its Hoop Shoot Dec. 4 at Carlos Haile Middle School in Bradenton, Florida. Five contestants will advance to the district competition.
Pictured with contestants are Randy Volkart, Lodge Hoop Shoot Chair, and committee members Joe Volari and Tony Lapera. Not pictured are committee members Tracy Lapera and Nancy Volkart who also helped conduct the event.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge Shrimp Boil Raises Funds for Elks National Foundation
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- Written by JoAnn Reddy
On Oct. 8, Chef Brett Davis, Lodge Secretary, cooked and hosted a shrimp boil and dance at Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge. The event raised $2,000 for the Elks National Foundation.
South Hillsborough Elks Donate Grant to Sun City Center United Methodist Church Meal Program
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- Written by South Hillsborough Elks
On Oct. 24, South Hillsborough Elks Lodge #2672 donated $2,500 from its Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to the Sun City Center United Methodist Church to purchase nutritional food for children and youth of the community whose families are financially disadvantaged. Dinner is served twice weekly in the church’s dining room.
Pictured among others are Grace Bibisi, PER, trustee; Joyce Dominick-Schaefer, PER, grant coordinator, presenting the donation to Pastor Josh Landers; Jennifer Clance, coordinator of the younger youth program and the youth group; and Bill Turner, coordinator of the older youth program.
Southwest District Elks Lodges Celebrate Red Ribbon Week
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- Written by Chuck Stieb
On Oct. 25, members of Manasota, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota and Bradenton Elks lodges, along with Elroy the Elk, the mascot for the Elks Drug Awareness program, attended the Manatee County School Board meeting for the reading of the proclamation of Red Ribbon Week Oct. 23-31. Jack Cantwell, PDD from Bradenton Lodge spoke on behalf of the BPOE national Drug Awareness program, the largest volunteer drug awareness program in the United States. He mentioned the Elks support of Red Ribbon Week to communicate drug awareness to youth. From Oct. 24 through Oct. 31, Elroy the Elk (Dawn Markham) was escorted by Diane Davis to 11 elementary schools in the Manatee County School District to greet students at arrival/morning announcements and visit classrooms to deliver his message of “Say NO to Drugs.”
Pictured are Jack Cantwell, PDD, Drug Awareness State Vice Chair from Bradenton Lodge; Diane Davis, Manasota Lodge Drug Awareness Chair; Ken Davis, PDD from Manasota Lodge; Dale Steinke, Manasota Lodge Exalted Ruler; and Elroy the Elk (Dawn Markham from Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge). Pictured in the back row are members of the Manatee County School Board.