Southwest Central District

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Written by Lake Placid Elks

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The members of Lake Placid Elks Lodge #2661 held a successful school supply drive, and on Aug. 9, Amy Bovair, Leading Knight, right, delivered the school supplies to the Lake Country Elementary School. Pictured with her is an office staff member whose name was unavailable.

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Written by Ronna Mason

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Sebring Elks are proud sponsors of the Sebring Youth Baseball AAA team and the Ozone All-Star teams. Both teams are heading to Laurel, Mississippi, as the Florida Dixie Youth Baseball state tournament champions in their divisions. On July 31 at the lodge, member Nick Tidwell presented each team with a $250 check. Coach Brian Simmons and Gabe Ford accepted for the AAA league and Carter Gose and his mother, Christi, accepted for the Ozone league.  

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Written by Ronna Mason

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On July 3, Sebring Elks Lodge #1529 participated in a dedication of a refrigerator to the Hands for Homeless organization in Avon Park, Florida. This nonprofit organization started the community fridge program to meet the needs on a 24-7 basis of those who are homeless and food deprived in Highlands County. The lodge used funds from its Elks National Foundation Gratitude and Spotlight grants, totaling $4,000, to purchase the refrigerator and other supplies for those in need. Local chef Jacob Lyons provides takeout meals daily which are kept in the refrigerator. Dairy products and other items that need to be kept cool are also stocked in it. It is cleaned once a day and restocked three times a day. A dry goods pantry storage is available as well, and a pallet of food is kept nearby that varies daily and does not require refrigeration. Hands for Homeless runs the program and purchased a building in Avon Park and the refrigerator and pantry are located in the parking lot under a covered and well-lit area. Some lodge members continue to help restock supplies and also deliver meals to those who are shut in. Approximately 20 members attended the dedication. During the event, lodge members Rob Lipscomb and Stacy Hill and their daughter, Jayce, stock the pantry and Carlie Stockenberg, daughter of member Joe, stocks the refrigerator and photographs the event. 

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Written by Anthony Bonacum

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Lakeland Elks Lodge #1291 donated its $2,500 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to the Florida Baptist Children’s Home One More Child program. This is a community-based, nonprofit organization serving local communities, and the program provides meals through a backpack program in local schools. The lodge donation will provide meals to vulnerable children and their families who have struggled with difficulties throughout this pandemic. Pictured June 30 are lodge members Sher Thrush and Jim Mosier along with Leon Battle, Rebecca Rothman, Megan Matta and Kaf Nelson from Florida Baptist Children’s Home.

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Written by Ronna Mason

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Sebring Lodge’s Jim Mason, PDD and Judy Hanson, PER presented a $3,500 check from the lodge’s Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to the Highlands Lakeside Summer Theatre Institute camp directors/instructors, Christi Hagen, Tracy Schuknecht and Laura Wade June 23 during the rehearsal for their upcoming musical, “Legally Blonde Jr.” The Sebring Elks have been the sponsor of this camp for eight years and have seen its growth from 17 campers to this year's 68. The campers, ages 9 to 20, presented the musical June 24. In attendance are Elks members Brenda Richards, Kathy Smith, Judy Hanson, Jim and Ronna Mason, and Wainetta Holmes.