Southwest District

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Written by Kevin Burke, PER

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On May 9, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks recognized two Americanism essay contest winners.

Pictured are Kevin Burke, PER, Americanism Chair; Miranda Cantrell, fifth grader who finished third in the district and received $500 from the state association; Brody Wood, sixth grader who finished first in the district and state and received $1,500 from the state association along with a two-night stay in Orlando at the state convention and a $500 stipend; and Rodney Graper, Exalted Ruler.

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Written by JoAnn Reddy

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In 2011, Bradenton Elks started EFELT, a charitable organization that packed food for 50 food-deprived students. The food was delivered to their school on Fridays so they would have food during the weekend. More schools were eventually added and Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks joined the project. There are now about 50 volunteers buying, packing and delivering food to 13 schools for about 550 children. The two lodges have depended on businesses to give temporary space to store the food and pack the bags, resulting in constant moving to alternate sites. EFELT needed a permanent place. Bradenton Lodge allowed EFELT to build a storage and packing building on their property. However, all the grant funds and donations that EFELT collects have to pay for food, gas and auto insurance. The EFELT Board of Directors started a fundraising campaign to help pay for a building. A fundraiser dinner was held in March at Bradenton Lodge and raised $11,000. Board members reached out to organizations to explain what EFELT does and petitioned them for help. On April 6, Connectors With a Cause donated $576.84. On May 18, Christ Church of LongBoat Key donated $40,000 through their Mission Partner Transformation Grant. Once the building is complete, EFELT’s goal is to feed more children so no child faces a weekend without a meal.

Andrea Hitcho, EFELT CEO, middle, is pictured with Jamie Meirowsky and Paige Soper from Connectors With a Cause. Pictured at Christ Church of Longboat Key are EFELT board members Clay Wakefield and Mike Reddy; Jerry Fox, church Mission committee chair; EFELT board members Paul Reddy and Andrea Hitcho; Dr. Julia Piermont, pastor; and EFLELT board members JoAnn Reddy, Liz Andricks, Ted Stenerson, Cindy Stenerson, and Tony Devita.

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Written by Cindy Vaillancourt

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On April 1, Venice-Nokomis Elks Lodge members delivered approximately $3,000 worth of groceries from the Florida State Elks Association Walgreens partnership to the Laurel Civic Association’s Empowering Success program, which provides services to children and families in Sarasota County. Lodge members Sherie and David Gillum collected the groceries from local Walgreens stores.

Pictured are Erick Carerra, Daniel Smith, and Michael Tepper of Walgreens; Sherie Gillum, PER; Peter Casamento, president and CEO of Laurel Civic; Dave Gillum, PER; and Edwin Robinson of Walgreens.

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Written by John Louhier

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On May 3, Bradenton Elks Lodge #1511 held a Kentucky Derby Day fundraiser to benefit the Harry-Anna Trust Fund. Members took part in live stick races, a men’s and women’s hat contest, 50/50 and a Mac and cheese bar. Afterward, members stayed to watch the derby. The event raised $600.

Pictured are Barry and Kimberly LeBlanc, the son-in-law and daughter of pictured members Judi and Donovan Lewis.

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Written by Heather Gowarty

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On June 14, Palmetto Elks hosted a Flag Day ceremony at Addington Place at College Harbor, a retirement community in St. Petersburg, and had some of the veterans participate. In attendance were 59 residents, who were given small flags, and 11 Elks. Six residents who are veterans carried in the military flags.

Pictured are residents in attandance.

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Written by JoAnn Reddy

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On June 8, the Elks Riders of Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge #2855 presented $8,924 to the family of Ryder Cornthwait, who has a brain injury, to aid in medical care costs. The presentation took place at Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota lodge, as the majority of the donation was raised at that lodge. Members of other Southwest District lodges hosted fundraising events as well.

Pictured are Alex Burke, Elks Riders president; Justin Cornthwait, Ryder's father; Matt Burdette of Palmetto Lodge; Ron Duquet of Bradenton Lodge; and Ryder Cornthwait.