Details

Written by Suzanne Cunningham

The ladies of the Eustis Elks Anna Miller Circle 1578 held a collection for school supplies for Eustis Elementary School. Lists of needed items were provided by the principal and were displayed for two months in the lodge’s lobby. On Aug. 7, the ladies sorted and organized $2,500 worth of school supplies and $700 worth of additional donations for the school. Donations came from ladies, lodge members and residents of the Royal Harbor community.

Pictured going through the supplies are Beverly Dufresne, Anna Miller President; Judi McCarroll; and Maryann Cerney. Also pictured are lodge member Tom McCarroll; Beverly Dufresne and her granddaughter, Hayden; and Judi McCarroll. Not pictured is Suzanne Cunningham.

Details

Written by Virginia Warfield

St. Petersburg Elks Lodge #1224 held a back-to-school pool party Aug. 12. Members had previously donated school supplies worth more than $500, which were given to local children who attended the event. The remaining supplies were donated to two schools in St Petersburg. Supplies worth $450 were given to Tyrone Middle School and approximately $150 worth of supplies were given to Westgate Elementary.

Pictured are some of the school supplies at the pool party. Pictured at the Tyrone Middle School delivery are Bonnie Barnes, PER; Brian Haverfield, Leading Knight; and Ms. O’Brien, family and community liaison. Pictured at the Westgate Elementary delivery are Randi Martin, front office volunteer coordinator; Brian Haverfield, Leading Knight; and Bonnie Barnes, PER.

Details

Written by David Roche

On Aug. 5, Eustis Elks Lodge #1578 held its annual teacher appreciation breakfast, with 90 teachers attending. The event was put on by 12 lodge members. Door prizes were valued at more than $3,000 and included school supplies, five $100 bills and $400 in gift cards. There was also a jar of cash for attendees to guess the amount in it, which was $136. The lodge spent a total of $5,000 on this event. The lodge Drug Awareness Committee attended and gave each teacher a bag with Grand Lodge and Florida Elks brochures, lodge drug awareness pencils, coloring books, red ribbons and stickers.

Pictured are breakfast attendees and the prize table.

Details

Written by Deborah Reedy, PER

In June, Jacksonville Elks Lodge delivered two Welcome Home kits for veterans. David Graham, Exalted Ruler, and Donnie Rowand, House Committee Chair, helped Karen Tracy, Veterans Services Chair, in loading and delivering the kits. Both veterans were very appreciative, and one of them said that receiving the kit took a lot of stress off him. Pictured are veteran Charles, David Graham and Karen Tracy. Also pictured are David Graham and Donnie Rowand with the trailer of kit items for the second veteran. 

On July 23, Karen Tracy, Jacksonville Lodge Veterans Services Chair, and David Graham, Exalted Ruler, helped veteran Joshua move in to his new apartment. He moved in on a Friday with nothing except his backpack and a water bottle. The lodge provided him with a bed, bedding, towels, lamps, nightstand, chairs, waste can, mop and broom. Over the weekend, larger furniture was delivered. Some of the furniture was bought using the Welcome Home kit funds and other pieces were donated. Joshua is the fifth recipient of the lodge’s Welcome Home Kits. Joshua is pictured with some of his new items in his apartment. Also pictured is a truck full of his items.

Details

Written by Pete Jordan

On July 13, Port St. Lucie Lodge’s Exalted Ruler, Thomas Randazzo, left, and Secretary, Frederick Barth, second from right, distributed 108 backpacks filled with school supplies to the Boys & Girls Club of St. Lucie County. These supplies were purchased using an Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant. Boys & Girls Club program director, Tasha Mitchell, middle, accepted these much-needed supplies.

Details

Written by Lake City and Live Oak Elks

Lake City and Live Oak Elks lodges provided a barbecue meal to the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program for the Florida Army National Guard, which was held at the Blanche Hotel in downtown Lake City, Florida, July 15 for Guard members and their families. Live Oak Elks provided smoked pork and Lake City Elks provided the sides, sweets and drinks for more than 125 returning veterans.

Pictured are Stanley Cox, PDD and Angela Cox of Lake City #893; John Dill, PDD of Live Oak #1165; Brandy Meeks, Lake City Elk-Mates Treasurer; Chris Samson, Lake City Exalted Ruler; Andy Hillhouse, Live Oak Exalted Ruler; Snuffy Smith, PDD and Amy Smith of Live Oak #1165; and Jamie Pardee of Live Oak #1165. Also pictured are returning National Guard members and family members in the lunch lines.