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Southwest District
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Make Donation to Southeastern Guide Dogs
- Details
- Written by Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks
On Sept. 22, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 donated $5,000 to Southeastern Guide Dogs and was matched by the Canine Care Council. Southeastern Guide Dogs provides guide and service dogs to people with vision loss, veterans with disabilities and children with significant challenges. These premier dogs and lifetime services are provided at no cost to the recipient. Pictured are lodge members Barbara Christopher, Mary Bilkie, and Tom Sweeney; Sean Brown of Southeastern Guide Dogs; and lodge member Pat Morocco.
Venice-Nokomis Lodge Shares Spotlight Grant with Schools in Need
- Details
- Written by Venice-Nokomis Elks
Venice-Nokomis Elks Lodge #1854 used $826 from its Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant to purchase needed supplies for children in three local schools who are underprivileged — Laurel Nokomis, Island Village Montessori and Venice Elementary School. Supplies such as headphones, compositions books, notebook binders, folders, glue sticks, markers and colored pencils were donated and delivered. Pictured Sept. 2 is Lori Christie, guidance counselor at Venice Elementary School.
South Hillsborough Elks Donate Shoes and Supplies to Gibsonton Elementary School
- Details
- Written by South Hillsborough Elks
On Sept. 2, South Hillsborough Lodge donated shoes for kids in need, (especially tennis shoes and closed-toe shoes, to Gibsonton Elementary School. This project will continue for several months because the local need is tremendous. The Elks also donated two big boxes of school supplies to the school. While the lodge’s supply of goods is small, when combined with others, it will help many kids.
Pictured delivering to the school is Jan McCleery, PER, Esquire.
Bradenton Elks Support Hooves with H.E.A.R.T.
- Details
- Written by Bradenton Elks
On Sept. 24, Bradenton Elks Lodge #1511 donated $3,500 to Hooves with H.E.A.R.T. (Horse Education and Riding Therapy), an animal therapy organization in Bradenton, Florida. They maintain six to eight horses and donkeys of various sizes and ages on approximately 10 acres. Animal therapy has been very popular recently. Hooves with H.E.A.R.T. invites children with conditions or disorders such as Down syndrome and autism to partner with the animals for rides and other training including walking, leading, cleaning and proper care of the animals. The donation was made from the Florida State Elks Association’s matching funds for the lodge’s Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant. Pictured at the donation presentation are Danielle Curtis, executive director; Darrin Simone, Southwest District Vice President; Dan Tabor, Past State President and District Leader; Bob Erwin, PDD, Exalted Ruler; Mason Cramer, therapy recipient; and Willow.
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
- Details
- 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
- Details
- 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
- Details
- 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
- Details
- 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
- Details
- 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
- Details
- 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
- Details
- 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.