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Written by Judy Wise

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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 Rita Smith, PER

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On Nov. 2, Tampa Elks Lodge #708 hosted 24 transitional veterans on a 90-minute river cruise through downtown Tampa, followed by a riverside lunch. The Tampa Fun Boat holds 35 people, so they booked the whole boat. Since the owner’s wife is an Elk, they got a discount. The veterans were from the Salvation Army Red Center, New Beginnings of Tampa, and Liberty Manor for Veterans. Also attending were 10 Elks who are active on veteran and children’s committees. The group left from the docks at Rick’s on the River. This outing gave the veterans something to do on a weekend and the chance to socialize.

Pictured are veterans and Elks during the cruise and lunch.

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Written by Cathy Walsh

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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 Cathy Walsh

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On Nov. 15, St. Augustine Elks Lodge #829 donated its $2,500 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to Epic-Cure for its Sustain U cooking classes. Epic-Cure is a 501(c)(3) organization that rescues food from many sources, such as grocery stores and farms, to fight food waste and food insecurity by distributing this food to those in need. Their cooking program uses local chefs and senior citizen volunteers who mentor students from Title 1 schools near the age of entering the workforce and veterans, teaching them cooking skills to help build their resumes and feed their families. The lodge also collects used plastic grocery bags to be used when food is distributed.

Pictured in the warehouse in the front row are Cathy Walsh, lodge charity chair; Sunny Mulford, Elk and Epic-Cure executive director; and Sarah McLevy, Lodge Grants Coordinator. In the second row are Epic-Cure volunteers Jane, Maura and Karl.

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Written by Kelli Jo Santos

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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.

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Written by Parrish Elks

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On Nov. 10, 13 Parrish Lodge members placed American flags at Parrish Cemetery’s 100 veterans’ graves for Veterans Day. Mary McQuoid, Americanism Chair, organized the remembrance.

Pictured are Anthony D'Abbraccio, Pilar Henson, Mary McQuoid, LeeAnn Mitchell, Kim Panza, Sandy Reinhartz, Sherri Crunk-Gumbs, Joe Kline, Debbie Else, Colleen Reinhartz and Sharon Kline.

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Written by Jill Randazzo

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On Oct. 19, members of Port St. Lucie Elks Lodge #2658 participated in the annual chili cook-off at Clover Park Stadium in Port St. Lucie. This event benefits the Boys & Girls Club of St. Lucie County. The lodge set up a tent, and Cindy Cruse and Kelly-Jo Dugas cooked chili on-site for the competition, while Chef Cindy Haugland brought chili she made at the lodge to sell at the competition, as this was also a requirement. The theme of the event was Disney villains; Marge Spera, PDD was Cruella De Vil and the volunteers dressed as the dalmatian puppies. The volunteers gave out 149 Drug Awareness bags filled with Drug Awareness coloring books and pamphlets and candy to the children. Elroy the Elk (Art Lander) attended as well and posed for pictures with the children. There were more than 37 chili competitors and the lodge won third place for best chili, second place for best costume and first place for nonprofit team.

In the group picture, kneeling, are Jill Randazzo and Rose Taynor. In the second row are Chef Cindy Cruse, Chef Kelly-Jo Dugas, Rose Orlowski, JoAnne Cassels-Lander, Geri Catalano, Vivian Coleman, PDD Marge Spera and Sally Mullens. In the third row are Chef Cindy Haugland; John Gravina; and Thomas Randazzo, Exalted Ruler. Pictured with two of the awards are Chef Kelly-Jo Dugas; Thomas Randazzo, Exalted Ruler; and Chef Cindy Cruse.

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Written by Lauren Dowd-Shedlock, PER

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On Nov. 9, Clewiston Elks Lodge #1853 held the Elks South Region Soccer Shoot. Contestants from four lodges attended — Clewiston #1853, Jupiter #2469, Florida Keys#1872 and Greater Pine Island #2781.

Pictured in the front row are Cayden Davis, U-10, first place; Rosa Esparza, U-8, second place; Sophia Velasquez, U-10, second place; Emiliano Garcia, U-10, second place; Brady McCarthy, U-12, first place; Aiden McCarthy, U-8, first place; and Marty Espinoza, South Regional Chair. In the back row are John Hotzfield, Greater Pine Island Exalted Ruler; Daniel Garcia, U-14, second place; Katheryn Rodriguez, U-16, first place; Michelle Rodriguez, U-14, second place; Johnathan Fajardo, U-14, third place; Taylor Davis, U-12, first place; Ryleigh Stravin, U-14, third place; and James Wesie, U-14, fourth place. Not pictured are Charley Mimbs, U-8, first place; Lauren Mickuleit, U-10, first place; Brilen Card, U-12, second place; Madelyn Mickuleit, U-14, first place; and Brison Card, U-14, first place. First place winners will compete in the State Soccer Shoot at the Florida Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla Jan. 4.