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Written by Greater Pine Island Elks

From July 4 through July 10, 26 high school students from the Bethel Powerhouse Youth Group in Chicago, Illinois, teamed with Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge #2781 to assist with housing cleanup and repairs for seniors and veterans with low incomes on the island. The lodge used its $6,000 Elks National Foundation Impact Grant to provide the supplies and materials. Lodge members assisted and supervised as the team worked on five homes. They cleaned; removed mold from and painted three trailers; insulated; repaired and replaced siding; and did much-needed yard work, including mowing, weeding and trimming. They also helped paint the local VFW and the First Baptist Church. The pastor from the First Baptist Church of Pine Island has a cousin who is the youth pastor in Chicago. This is the second year that this group has come to the island and worked on seniors’ and veterans’ houses. The students pay their own way and are housed with families on the island.

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Written by Amy Ellery

Throughout July, Lake Placid Elks Lodge #2661 oversaw a school supply drive, organized by member Cathy Keck. She spoke with schools and got a list of needed school supplies and secured a bus for the July stuff-the-bus event. The community was asked to donate school supplies and to drop them off at boxes placed around town or at the lodge. On Aug. 6, the lodge held a back-to-school bash to distribute all the supplies. At the event were police officers, firefighters, EMTs, K-9 Waylon, school board candidates and clowns. The lodge gave out approximately 200 bags of school supplies to students from kindergarten through high school. The lodge is hoping for an even larger turnout next year.

Pictured are lodge members Gordon Ellery Jr., Amy Ellery and Alesia Cheshire. Also pictured are students with members of law enforcement and the fire department.

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Written by Bob Erwin, PDD

The Southwest District, in coordination with Bradenton Elks Lodge #1511 and Manasota Elks Lodge #2734, provided Marine veteran and recent Florida resident Sharif Elwardany with assistance in finding permanent housing, car repairs and other immediate needs. Elwardany received $1,000 from the district, and both lodges put him in contact with Veterans Village, an organization with temporary housing; Manatee County Turning Points Yellow Ribbon Program for personal hygiene, household goods, clothing, housing, and related items; and the C.W. Young VA Medical Center Elks representative for an emergency kit through the Veterans Administration. Veterans apply to the VA for registration, complete an application and submit unpaid bills, such as car repairs, electric bills, etc., that the vet was behind on. Then the government, through the VA, pays the vendors. Eligible veterans can get up to $2,500 in support.

Pictured Aug. 5 are Bob Erwin, PDD of Bradenton Lodge; veteran Sharif Elwardany; and Bill Rauh, Bradenton Lodge Veterans Chair.

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Written by David Clayton

In August, Ocala Lodge members donated clothing and hygiene items in the lobby drop box for Interfaith Emergency Services. Pictured Aug. 19 is George Griffin III, PER delivering these donations to Interfaith Emergency Services. Additionally, on Aug. 30, lodge members shopped for nonperishable food items to donate to Interfaith's pantry using more of the lodge’s Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant. They spent $295 on 289 pounds of food items. Pictured are George Griffin III, PER; Linda Butler Moulton; and David Clayton, Loyal Knight.

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Written by Pam Saracene

The Sebastian Lodge’s Community Activities Committee held its first community baby shower Aug. 28 in the lodge hall using the Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant and community donations. Thetargeted demographic was expectant mothers and new mothers in the community who needed some assistance. All participants enjoyed lunch, played baby shower games and received bags filled with baby essentials. Additionally, they each were able to choose from a variety of baby items such as bassinets, highchairs, strollers and more, mostly donated by the community. The event was chaired by Pam Saracene and member volunteers included Mary Fox, Sue Rummel, Audrey Huddy, Kim Baker, Pauline Talbott, Mary Ducharme, Mike Shodlbauer (Elroy), Dan Talbott and Gary Saracene.

Pictured are shower attendees. Also pictured are youngsters James and Sergio hugging Elroy the Elk while the mothers played baby shower games.

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Written by Cristin Rumler

Using its Elks National Foundation Beacon and Gratitude grants and a Florida State Elks Association matching grant, Sanford Elks Lodge #1241 hosted a Family Fun Day that included a school supply giveaway July 30. The lodge provided 300 backpacks filled with school supplies to kids in the community. The lodge hosted more than 400 attendees, and lodge members served lunch for the children and their families and participated with children in indoor and outdoor game stations and multiple craft stations. The Sanford Police Department also attended and brought their gaming truck, which was a hit for the older siblings. Various Elks programs were represented, including the Hoop Shoot, Soccer Shoot, scholarships and the Florida Elks major projects, including Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services (FECTS) therapists Beth Thiers and Jane Russo, who helped greet the guests and kids and spoke to them about the program.

Pictured are kids playing arcade basketball; Lisa Lindstrom, Exalted Ruler, with Ariel Robbins, 9, and Brett Robbins, 6; Elks volunteers passing out backpacks to families; member Joe English hosting a craft table; and FECTS therapists Beth Thiers and Jane Russo at their booth and sharing information with guests.