Fort Pierce Elks Deliver Food Backpacks, Supplies and Gifts to Local Schools

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Written by Lenny Smallacombe

On Dec. 9 with 32 volunteers, Fort Pierce Elks Lodge #1520’s pantry/food backpack program packed food items in backpacks for 13 St. Lucie County public elementary schools. More than 600 homeless children will have an ample supply of food during the long holiday school vacation. The lodge partners with school officials and they agreed to send a large truck to pick up and deliver the food to the schools Dec. 12. While this was going on, the lodge visited three schools most in need and donated boxes of school shirts, belts, shorts and Christmas gifts for homeless families whose children attend these schools. All the schools that the lodge helps are provided free breakfast, lunch and now snacks before leaving school. This successful program is fueled by 39 dedicated team members.

Lenny Smallacombe and Fort Pierce Elks delivered clothes, backpacks and Christmas gifts to Lakewood Park Elementary Dec. 12.

Anthony Melcher Scholarship Gets Fundraising Start at St. Petersburg Lodge

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Written by May Graci

Dixie Hollins’ Interact Club members were the servers for St. Petersburg Elks Lodge #1224 during the Not-So-Beauty beauty pageant Oct. 13 and the USA show and veterans appreciation dinner Nov. 3. The club members received $520 in cash donated by attendees of the pageant and an additional $500 was giving by a lodge member who wishes to remain anonymous. The members received $480 during the USA show and dinner.

The Interact Club is a service group that helps the surrounding community and the students earn volunteer hours toward scholarships. Nine members volunteered at each event so they could earn cash to start the new scholarship, the Anthony Melcher Memorial Fund. This scholarship will be available to senior track and cross country athletes. This scholarship is being established by Diana Melcher, Anthony’s sister, and the Melcher-Baer family along with the Interact Club. Their focus is to increase awareness about suicide prevention while raising money for scholarships for young athletes at Dixie Hollins High School. Anthony Melcher graduated with honors from Dixie Hollins High School in 2009 where he was captain of the cross country team and won many awards. He was also the captain of his team in Ragner Relay Races. Melcher, 20, of Pinellas Park, Fla., died by suicide, July 24, 2011.

This scholarship is available to graduating seniors who participated in track and cross country for a minimum of two years, must have a minimum GPA of 3.3, must have demonstrated a minimum of 50 hours of school and community service, and be seeking a four-year degree. The scholarship winner will receive $1,000.

Diana Melcher, second from left, stands with several members of the Interact Club. Behind them are Anthony’s cross country shirt, medals and awards. She and the club established the Anthony Melcher Memorial Fund and started its fundraising at St. Petersburg Lodge Oct. 13.

Have News You Want to Share?

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Written by FSEA

We want to hear from you! The Florida Elks News Online site is a timely way to tell the world all about the good things happening at your Lodge. You can keep your members up-to-date in between the printed quarterly FEN editions by sending your news articles here. The online FEN version is already one of the most popular pages on the FSEA website so you don't want to miss out on this terrific way to promote your Lodge with members and the general public. As we receive news and pictures from you, we will post them here immediately. You will also want to visit this site frequently so be sure to bookmark it as one of your favorites right now!

As an added bonus for sending articles for publication on the Florida Elks News Online site, we will also post them to the FSEA Facebook page which regularly has over 15,000 unique weekly viewers. You heard right! You will get double the coverage to a wide audience!

There are a couple of ways to submit online articles. For the more adventuresome, you can make a submission by going to the FSEA online submission webpage at http://www.floridaelks.org/submission-guidelines. This page can also be accessed anytime via the NEWS CENTER menu link at the top of the FSEA website page. For those of you who prefer email, please send articles and pictures to Rachael King at rachael@floridaelks.org. It's just that easy!

Let's hear from you and work together to get your lodge recognized for its outstanding community programs!