On Dec. 26, Tampa Lodge members Edie Hanley, Inner Guard, and Rita Smith, Leading Knight, arrived at Open Arms Ministry at 7 a.m. to give a Christmas card containing a $25 Walmart gift card and a one-day unlimited bus pass to each person in the homeless population who arrived for coffee and a bagged meal, fresh dessert and good company. According to the ministry’s records, 75 people in need were served. The remaining cards will be given to the veterans without homes from the James A. Haley VA Domiciliary when they attend a lodge dinner. This project was financed by the Florida State Elks Association matching funds of an Elks National Foundation grant. 

Pictured are Edie Hanley distributing a card and Leo Dougherty, an Open Arms volunteer, checking in a client.