Southwest Central District

Details

Written by Mary Lou Scribner

Brandon Lodge adopted eight families with a total of 17 children and made sure these families enjoyed a wonderful Christmas. On Dec. 18 there was plenty of Christmas spirit at the lodge with Christmas carols playing while elves wrapped gifts. Grandchildren of lodge members were sharing in the merriment and learning first-hand what Elks do! This is an annual tradition, and each year, families are sought that have fallen on hard times. Marionette Sexton, Lecturing Knight, chairs this event. Lodge members choose a child to adopt and purchase and wrap presents. An entire Christmas dinner is also provided to the families.

Brandon Lodge members Donald Harrison; Nancy Price, treasurer; and Nickie Wells, PER, trustee, wrap Christmas gifts Dec. 18 at the lodge for local families.

Details

Written by Judy Wise

The Plant City Police Department informed Plant City Lodge that they often deal with traumatized children and it is much easier if they have a stuffed animal to give to them to help calm them. If the children are placed into foster care, the children usually only bring a few personal items with them because they are removed from the home with nothing but the clothes on their back. Exalted Ruler, Ron Johns, donated a large amount of new stuffed toy animals for the police department to carry in their cars.

Ron Johns, Plant City Exalted Ruler, presents stuffed animals to Plant City police officer Russell Fredrick to be given to children during stressful times.

Details

Written by Judy Wise

Plant City Elks Lodge member and Plant City police officer, Vince Wise, informed the lodge that while the Plant City Police had 25 squad cars with defibrillators, the batteries were all dead. Due to the hiring of additional officers, batteries were not in the budget. At a lodge meeting, members decided to apply for the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to purchase the very expensive batteries. Each battery with a quantity discount was $230. With the matching state grant, the lodge was still $750 short but it was made up by members David Brewington and J.J. Calhoun. On Dec. 12 at the lodge’s annual luncheon for the police department, the batteries were presented to Chief Ed Duncan. After lunch, the squad cars were lined up and lodge members installed all the batteries.

Pictured with three uniformed Plant City police officers (names unknown) as they receive defibrillator batteries from Plant City Lodge are Ron Johns, Exalted Ruler; David Brewington, board member; Judy Wise, District Veterans Services Chairman; J.J. Calhoun, member; Sgt. Bass, Plant City PD; and Police Chief, Ed Duncan.

Details

Written by Brandon Elks

Using the $5,000 from their Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant and matching state funds, Brandon Elks Lodge #2383 gifted Burnett Middle School a much-needed and appreciated audio system for the school as well as civics test preparation software. Teacher Matthew Kiati had been bringing in his equipment from home for special events. The staff is overjoyed with the assistance and new community partnership and the students were happily surprised when the new system was used for a dance a few days after the presentation Dec. 10.

Pictured are (front) assistant principals Stacey Schbarbarum and Terrella Brooks; principal, Valerie Newton; teacher Matthew Kiati; and media specialist, Rosie Alfonso. In the middle are Past Exalted Rulers Christine Vogel, Sharon Hammersla and Mary Lou Scribner. At the top is District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler George Scribner.

Details

Written by Lakeland Elks

On Oct. 11, Lakeland Elks Lodge #1291 hosted its fifth annual Puttin’ on the Pink breast cancer fundraiser. Sher Thrush chaired the event. A record number of tickets were sold out weeks in advance and they raised a record amount for Hollis Cancer Center’s Breast Cancer Center – more than $12,000. The planning of the event is a yearlong process; the first planning meeting included 25 lodge members and the number of participants grew with each meeting. The evening consisted of dinner; entertainment by Carlos & Company; basket sales; a 50/50 drawing; a silent auction; and the sale of pink ribbons, T-shirts, and pink poinsettias. The hall and parking lot were decked out in pink. In attendance were cancer survivors and fighters who stood up to be acknowledged, supported and applauded. Committee members obtained donations, sold tickets, helped set up and tear down, handled the dinner, participated in the brotherhood of pinkness fashion show, and helped with the entertainment.

Lodge members (mostly from Lakeland Lodge but several from other lodges) Ray Stepson, Carl Hutchcraft, Alex Miller, Bob Fuschetti, Jeff Morse, Gerry Deig, Greg Williams, Kenny McCoy, Ron Sullivan, Ricky Mercer, Brant Tuman, Sean Love-Appling and Robbie McNally participate in the brotherhood of pinkness fashion show Oct. 11 at Lakeland Lodge’s Puttin’ on the Pink breast cancer fundraiser.