On Aug. 2, Sarasota South Elks Lodge #2495 used its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant and prepared and delivered 96 backpacks filled with school supplies to Tatum Ridge Elementary in Sarasota, Florida.
Pictured are lodge member Lisa Frick; Barry Dunn, principal; and Su Harley, Exalted Ruler.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 is again buying and stocking food to feed children on weekends during the school year through the Elks Feeding Empty Little Tummies program. The lodge will be using its $2,500 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant and $4,000 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant throughout the school year for EFELT.
Pictured are lodge members Clay and Toni stocking the pantry.
On May 15, Sarasota South Lodge provided its $2,000 Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant to St. Mary Academy in Sarasota, Florida, for students who qualify for free lunches and snacks. The mission of St. Mary Academy is to provide an exceptional school for diverse learners. Member Lisa Frick completed the grant application.
Sarasota South Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler, Su Harley, awarded six Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps medals and certificates to deserving cadet students at three Sarasota schools. Riverview High School (May 3), Booker High School (May 10) and Sarasota Military Academy (May 12) each selected two distinguished cadets in their respective programs to receive the awards.
Palmetto Lodge held its annual Flag Day observance June 11, with the public invited to attend. The Stars and Stripes flag was adopted as the official U.S. flag June 14, 1777 and in 1916 President Woodrow Wilson established June 14 as Flag Day.
Pictured displaying the flags are members Lorraine Baker and Kitty Flournoy.
South Hillsborough Elks Lodge #2672 held its annual Flag Day salute June 17. The flags were presented by Girl Scout Troop 33322 and honored the flag from 1775 to the present time.
Pictured are Anniah Wanless, Quarje Moore, Gabbie McGlinsey, Vivian Abston, Bella Vielledent and Isabella Correa.
Manasota Elks Lodge #2734 received more than 25 Americanism essays from the three Abel Elementary School fifth grade classes. The Lodge Americanism Chair, Ken Davis, PDD, awarded the three contest winners with a certificates of appreciation and $35 Target gift cards.
Pictured are Mrs. Reeder, fifth grade teacher; Ken Davis, PDD, Americanism Lodge Chair; students Eshana M., Gwen M. and Jaydyn R.; Diane Davis, lodge trustee; and Mrs. Goodwin, fifth grade teacher.
Bradenton Lodge hosted a Southwest District blood drive May 13 in honor of State President Dan Tabor. The lodge coordinated with Life South Community Blood Center and Moffitt Cancer Center. There were 14 pints of whole blood and 1 pint of plasma collected.
Pictured are Becky Wright, Life South supervisor; Dave Gillum, District Vice President; Rachel Tabor, Dan Tabor’s wife; and Sherie Gillum, Venice-Nokomis Lodge Exalted Ruler.
Palmetto Elks Lodge #2449 donated $6,000 from its Elks National Foundation Beacon and Spotlight grants to One Child More, an organization that helps feed, clothe and house foster children and foster families at no cost to the families. This organization has built six homes for individual families in the past two years and is in the process of building two more to house foster families. One Child More has literacy programs to help children read and they send COVID-19 medications where needed.
Pictured are Linda Beck, Lecturing Knight; Tom Gafner, trustee; Helen Sexton, Secretary; Steve Baker, Exalted Ruler; Kitty Flournoy, Inner Guard; Kenneth Beery, Tiler; Tim Boyd, One Child More director; Len Meade, PER; Lorraine Baker, grants coordinator; and Lorraine McGee, chaplain.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge held a Kentucky Derby fundraiser May 6 for the Elks National Foundation, collecting $1,262. The event consisted of bar horse racing games, appetizers, a food buffet, best hat competitions and the live derby race.
Pictured are a few members displaying their hats.
On April 16, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge sponsored a car show and luncheon and invited community members to attend. In addition to raising more than $4,800 for the general lodge fund by selling food, 50/50 tickets and gift bag raffles, they gained two new members.
Pictured are Faith Frost, Exalted Ruler; Frank Farino, best original winner; and Dave Freeman, lodge member and car show emcee.
On April 15, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge hosted a golf tournament at Tara Preserve in Bradenton, Florida, which is down the road from the lodge, for members and their friends. The event featured a day of golfing, including a money hole, as well as a luncheon at the lodge, an auction, a 50/50 drawing and a gift bag raffle. A total of $5,821.22 was raised for the lodge’s charity funds.
Pictured are the golf tournament committee team — Mike Lindhardt, Kevin and Marge Burke, and Ron and Lori Webber.