On Sept. 18, Sebastian Lodge’s Community Projects and Activities Committee held a complimentary event at the lodge for local families, funded by a portion of the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant. As part of its ongoing literacy and education program, the lodge opened a Little Free Library, which was installed with the Vice Mayor, Fred Jones, cutting the ribbon at its dedication. An afternoon of free fun activities, books and food was built around the dedication. There were lots of games with prizes available to all children along with temporary tattoos and bingo for kids. Elroy the Elk made an appearance, and the Sebastian Police Department’s Community Outreach “COPE” Unit attended, providing complimentary snow cones and popcorn. To promote literacy and education, the event included free books for all kids, and prizes included bookmarks, rulers, specialty erasers and activity books, to name a few. Drug awareness material was passed out as well. During bingo, when a letter was called, kids shouted out words beginning with that letter. Music was provided by one of the lodge’s ‘adopted’ veterans, who kept things lively. Approximately 100 parents and children attended. More than two dozen Elks and El Does (Ladies of Elks) assisted with this event.

Pictured are Bailey, who knocked all the cans down with one bean bag; Hailey and Chaslyn with Elroy the Elk; Lyra, matching ducks as her mom, Nelly, looks on; Fred Jones, Sebastian Vice Mayor, with Chuck Marchetti, Exalted Ruler, with the new Little Free Library; and Connie Wellman overseeing a prize booth.