West Central District

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Written by May Graci

Thanks to the Elks National Foundation Promise Grant worth $2,500 plus lodge members donating $775 in new Christmas toys, St. Petersburg Lodge continued its tradition of serving their neighbors in need at Christmastime. With the grant and deep discounts from Walgreens, lodge volunteers went Christmas shopping for educational toys, electronic cars, soft and cuddly toys, diapers, clothing, and much more for newborns to 10-year-olds. Children ages 4-10 also received drug awareness activity books and their parents received drug awareness materials. The party was held Dec. 7 and included “elk” reindeer games, sugar cookie decorating, a balloon artist and various designs of colorful Christmas tattoos. Along with children and grandchildren of lodge members, the lodge also invited several organizations in Pinellas County that the lodge has adopted in the last few years. Attending the party were kids from the Children’s Village, MYcroSchool Pinellas, Sallie House and Westgate Elementary. Lunch was served not only to the 120 kids in attendance but also to the 130 parents and grandparents. Santa and Mrs. Claus spent time with each child and gave them specially selected toys. Receiving a gift during the holidays is a profound reminder to the children that others care for them no matter their circumstances. For the day, everyone was one large family celebrating the joys of the season.

Children’s Village is a Salvation Army program that helps families in crisis or extreme hardship situations who are having difficulties taking care of their children and also provides long-term and alternative care for children who are no longer able to live with their parents. MYcroSchool Pinellas is a tuition-free public charter high school for students ages 16-21 in St. Petersburg, Fla., who are at risk of dropping out. Attending were teenage and young adult students from the school with their toddlers. Sallie House is a safe haven for children from infants to 17 years of age who have been removed from their home because of abuse, neglect or abandonment. Westgate Elementary School in St. Petersburg serves 613 students and of those, 318 receive free lunch because of their family’s situation.

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Written by May Graci

On Nov. 23, St. Petersburg Lodge donated $420 to Dixie Hollins baseball team to thank the team members for assisting during a lodge event. According to coaches Ralph Rogers and Dave Neverline, the money will be used toward the purchase of an “L” screen and a batting cage. 

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Written by May Graci

On Nov. 24, St. Petersburg Lodge donated $3,645 to the non-profit Music Sweet Music Inc. (MSM). A $750 check was given to provide music therapy by a board certified music therapist to an 8-year-old boy who not only has a speech and language disability but also has other special needs. The donation will pay for two months of his music therapy. The boy started his customized music therapy program in July 2019 and his parents are very pleased with the progress he has made since he started going to MSM’s music therapy studio. MSM provides this service at zero cost to his parents. The lodge also donated 60 custom-made double-sided quilts made of fleece, 30 tote bags and over a dozen knitted slippers. This donation was valued at $2,895 and MSM will distribute the gifts to the clients they serve during the Christmas season. 

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Written by Jeanne Reinhart, PDD

Austin Hollis of Boy Scout Troop #417 sponsored by Largo Elks Lodge #2159 was awarded his Eagle Scout rank at a ceremony held at the lodge Nov. 2. His project was the construction of picnic tables for visitors to Taylor Park in Largo, Fla., who are in wheelchairs. He earned 30 merit badges even though only 21 are required for the Eagle Scout rank. He has served as senior patrol leader and just finished serving the troop as junior assistant scoutmaster. He attends St. Petersburg College and is the eighth Eagle Scout from Troop #417.

Pictured are Rob James, scoutmaster; Austin Hollis, Eagle Scout; Janet Rogers, PER, lodge liaison to the troop; and Joe Fritz, assistant scoutmaster.

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Written by May Graci

On Halloween, St. Petersburg Lodge tried trunk-or-treating, a twist on the classic trick-or-treating which brings the ritual to the safety of a private and known parking lot by turning the backs of minivans, trucks and sport utility vehicles into the new front porch. From 6-8 p.m., members were loaded up with a large assortment of candies and watched kids trick-or-treat from car to car. Kids came in waves in pairs or by the dozens. Many of the neighborhood kids fully dressed in Halloween costumes attended. Lodge members socialized, had the opportunity to meet the lodge’s neighbors and showed off their creative themed trunks while seeing all the cute and scary costumes. Congratulations go to Deseray Masi, the winner of the best decorated vehicle in the inaugural event.

Pictured are Deseray Masi with Paula Cope.

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Written by May Graci

St. Petersburg Lodge donated $1,000 to the St. Anthony’s Hospital 10th annual charity golf tournament held Oct. 25 at Copperhead Course at Innisbrook. The lodge was a hole-in-one sponsor. Funds raised will benefit the Susan Sheppard McGillicuddy Breast Center which offers exceptional care for women’s health needs. The tournament also supports the mammography voucher program which helps women who lack insurance or financial resources get access to what could be a lifesaving screening. Exalted Ruler, Dawn Elaine Lieber; Toni Goodrich, PDD; and Jan Durbin Giallourakis volunteered at the Elks tent handing out Elks informational materials, water, soda and crackers to the 128 tournament participants.

Pictured: Toni Goodrich, PDD; Dawn Elaine Lieber, Exalted Ruler; and Jan Durbin Giallourakis