Palmetto Elks Partner with Dive into Reading Program
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Written by Jim Hoey
Palmetto Elks Lodge #2449 has been providing community service to children in the local (soon to be statewide) Dive into Reading program. The program is designed to help children in Title I schools from first through third grade raise their reading skills. Sadly, 51% of Manatee County, Fla., children in the third grade cannot read at the third-grade level. These statistics are similar throughout the south Florida Title I school system.
The Anna Maria Oyster Bar piloted this program after they heard the statistics above from school employees and realized that from birth to third grade, we learn to read, and from third grade on, we read to learn. Children who cannot read at grade level after third grade usually do not make it through high school.
In its third year, Dive into Reading has proven to be successful at raising the reading levels of children who participate. The local school system brings children to the restaurant for breakfast with a mentor. The mentors assist the children by reading with and to them from grade level books and having the children read back from the same book. The program runs for one month in June. Children are tested by the school system at the end of the school year and then again at the beginning of the next school year. After attending the program, the results show positive improvement, or at least no loss of reading skills throughout the summer months. Statistically, these children would normally lose up to three months of reading skills during summer break.
Palmetto Elks involvement started at the mentor level. In the second year, the lodge donated over 200 backpacks with school supplies to the attending children. This year, over 400 children attended. The program is growing and other local restaurants are now participating. The Sarasota County school system has also joined the program. Palmetto Lodge has committed to providing an adequate number of backpacks for the program. The lodge is working with other lodges in the district to expand participation.
South Hillsborough Sponsors Regional Hoop Shoot Winner
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Written by South Hillsborough Elks
South Hillsborough Lodge sponsored Samiyah Singleton, a fourth-grade student at Ruskin Elementary School who won the category for girls ages 8-9 in the Florida state Hoop Shoot. Singleton competed at the regional level held in Georgia March 16 and finished in third place.
Pictured with Samiyah Singleton, regional Hoop Shoot third-place winner, are Rebecca Salgado, principal; Izabella Maxwell, coach and teacher; and Roy Gardner, lodge Hoop Shoot chairman.
South Hillsborough Lodge Hosts Prom for Students with Special Needs
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Written by South Hillsborough Elks
On March 9, South Hillsborough Elks Lodge #2672 used their Elks National Foundation Promise Grant to host a prom for students with special needs at the lodge. The students were from Earl L. Lennard High School in Ruskin, Fla. Pizza, wings, cupcakes and soft drinks were served. Over 30 students danced all evening to a DJ with the principal, teachers, family and Elks all joining in the fun.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Read and Present Program to Elementary School Students
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Written by Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks
The Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge Community Affairs Committee read “Let’s B Safe” books to 173 first-graders in both Gene Witt and Freedom elementary schools in February. In March, they presented a program to fourth-graders at both schools called Kids on the Block, a puppet show about bullying and stereotypes.
News from Venice-Nokomis Lodge
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Written by Andrice Nelson
Using an Elks National Foundation Promise Grant, Venice-Nokomis Elks Lodge #1854 donated $2,000 in food, after-school snacks and a weekend backpack program to a local community civic center for 75 homeless children.
The lodge also donated three bicycles and helmets to a local family whose children needed rides to school.
Lodges #2495 and #1854 Have Successful Toys for Tots Campaign
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Written by Rose Wujcik
Jim Lamb, PDD from the Southwest District was the Toys for Tots Coordinator for Florida’s Sarasota County. Participating this year were members from Sarasota South Elks Lodge #2495 and Venice-Nokomis Elks Lodge #1854. Together their members donated 9,965 volunteer hours to make sure that 19,965 children had a Merry Christmas. A total of 105,528 toys, 8,941 books and 45,569 stocking stuffers were given out as in-kind donations equaling $2,167,190.10.
Americanism Essay Winners Honored at Sarasota South Lodge
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Written by Rose Wujcik
On Feb. 3, Sarasota South Elks Lodge #2495 hosted a buffet luncheon for the winners of the Americanism essay contest. This year’s theme was “What Makes you Proud to be an American.” Ray Peetz, Lodge Americanism Chairman, introduced the winners of the 2019 contest, all of whom were from Pine View School in Sarasota, Fla. – first-place winner, Sidney Brann; second-place winner, Oleg Frankowski; and third-place winner, Emily Fung. He shared with them “What it means to be an Elk” from the Elks creed and thanked the winners for their participation. He also shared audio of Red Skelton’s famous definition of each word of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Pictured at Sarasota South Lodge’s awards luncheon for Americanism essay contest winners are Richard Bouchard, Exalted Ruler; Emily Fung, third-place winner; Fran Squires, teacher; Sidney Brann, first-place winner; Ray Peetz, Lodge Americanism Chairman, and Sue Fair, assistant principal.
Venice-Nokomis Elks Support Local Children's Programs
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Written by Venice-Nokomis Elks
Venice-Nokomis Elks Lodge #1854 has given much support to local children. They donated 20 bicycles to a local elementary school for a reading incentive program. The bicycles were presented by Dave Gillum, Exalted Ruler, and Sherie Gillum, Leading Knight. With the help of the Promise Grant, they donated $1,300-worth of food to the Sandra Terry Civic Center for the afterschool snack program that feeds 75 homeless children weekly. The lodge also used the Anniversary Grant to purchase and deliver 150 dictionaries to two local elementary schools, and school supplies were delivered to Laurel Nokomis Elementary School for needy children.
South Hillsborough Elks Support Local Summer Day Camp
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Written by South Hillsborough Elks
South Hillsborough Elks Lodge #2672 sponsored 22 young boys and girls to participate in the county’s summer day camp program held at E.G. Simmons Park. This year, with the Gratitude Grant and in cooperation with the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department, the lodge was able to support two camp periods: July 2-13 for children ages nine to 11 and July 16-27 for children ages 12-15. The camp teaches conservation, kayaking, fishing safety, fishing techniques, catch and release procedures, species identification, and arts and crafts. Two field trips were conducted including a visit to the Florida Aquarium in Tampa and the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center in nearby Apollo Beach. Local charter captains lectured on the fishes of Tampa Bay. At the conclusion of each camp period, awards were given to the camper who caught the biggest fish, the camper who caught the most fish and the camper who showed the most improvement in fishing capabilities. As part of the program, on the last day of camp, every camper receives a rod and reel, some lures, and other tackle and leaves the program with new friends and fond memories.
