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Written by Linda Califf

Gainesville Elks Lodge #990 uses the Elks National Veterans Service Commission Welcome Home Kit program to help veterans move from homelessness into independent living. The lodge partners with the local HUD-VASH Honor Center to receive the names of veterans in need and quickly responds to the social workers’ requests for assistance in providing the veterans with their immediate needs. To date, the lodge has submitted 36 kits to the ENVSC for reimbursement and have given more than 120 kits total to veterans, using additional funds from their Veterans account and ENVSC Freedom Grants. The ENVSC provides reimbursement per veteran of up to $400 per kit and up to $600 for each kit that includes a bed.

On Oct. 18, veteran Eric Lema and his twin daughters, Raediance and Raelynn, received their kit. The girls got new beds and bedding. Eric and his family received other donated furniture and household items. On Dec. 16 and Dec. 17, the lodge shopped for eight veterans, four each day. Pictured are Linda Califf, Veterans Chair, and Lori Salmons, Elk volunteer and bartender.

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Written by Jeff Rumler, PDD

On Nov. 24, a group of veterans from the Lake Nona VA visited Sanford Lodge for the monthly lunch and game day. They were served a Thanksgiving meal and pumpkin pie. Veterans helped decorate stockings that were later filled and sent to American soldiers overseas for Christmas by member Caryn George. One of the lodge’s minor members, Collin Carver, wanted to let the veterans help him with his school science project. He baked hundreds of cookies with six sugar types. The veterans had a great time tasting and ranking them for his project.

Pictured are veterans decorating stockings and with Collin Carver.

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Written by Tracy Carroll, PER

On Nov. 23, 28 Green Cove Springs Elk volunteers packed children's gift bags with items purchased by the Harry-Anna Trust Fund’s matching ENF Beacon Grant and jewelry gift bags from a distributor donation to the Elks. On Dec. 7, 25 Elk volunteers partnered with the city to host Santa's Workshop at the annual Christmas festival and parade. Volunteers distributed 450 gift bags to children and 500 jewelry gift bags to adults. Before the event, members Mike McNaney; Laquetta Willimon, trustee; and Joy Elrod, Loyal Knight, coordinated volunteers from several local organizations to set up more than 225 Christmas trees throughout Spring Park to add to the holiday enjoyment for the community. Stuart Williams, Leading Knight, represented the lodge as a parade judge.

Pictured distributing gifts are Kathy Hughson; Greg Hughson, PDD; Barbara Thompson, House Committee secretary; and members Eddie Thompson and Dina Sakowski.

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Written by Judy Wise

Plant City Lodge partnered with People's Life Institute to distribute 50 turkeys and 50 boxes of food to make Thanksgiving better for some of Hurricane Milton's victims. The recipients applied for the food through People's Life Institute. Some local pastors helped deliver some of the food to people who lost their cars to flooding. The Elks purchased the food using funds from the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant. The lodge did a similar distribution just before Christmas.

Pictured are Glen Gary, PLI volunteer; Judy Wise, Exalted Ruler; and Linda Dougherty, PLI executive director.

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Written by Cathy Walsh

On Nov. 11, St. Augustine Elks Lodge #829 hosted the Patriot Guard Riders for a pizza lunch. There were six Elks and 40 riders in attendance. The riders were accompanying the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall for display at a local church on Veterans Day.

Pictured are the riders, trailer, riders at lunch, and a person viewing the wall.

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Written by Kelli Jo Santos

Arcadia Elks Lodge #1524 participated in the third annual kids fishing event Nov. 23, organized by the DeSoto Bass Fishing Club. It was held at the Lake Katherine park in Arcadia. Approximately 100 kids from the community attended and each child received a fishing pole with bait. Lodge members donated 46 poles. The kids fished in Lake Katherine and lodge members and other community members helped them bait their hooks and taught them how to cast their lines into the water. All the kids were allowed to take their poles home with them. This was the lodge’s first year participating but they plan to make it an annual event.

Pictured are Kelli Jo Santos, Leading Knight, and Joey Santos, Exalted Ruler.