Southwest District

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Written by South Hillsborough Elks

On Aug. 15, South Hillsborough Elks Lodge #2672 presented Meet Me in the Street Ministry with 14 boxes and sacks of food. This organization located in Ruskin, Florida, feeds children and families in need on Wednesdays and sends packs of food home with them on weekends. Members, guests and friends of the Elks donated items such as individual applesauce and fruit cups, single-serve ravioli, macaroni and cheese and canned spaghetti, granola and snack bars, and so much more. The lodge will continue to collect donations for this project.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.