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Written by Carole Ingram

For the ninth consecutive year, Inverness Elks Lodge #2522 has completed its Backpacks for Success school supply program to support local students. The program supplies backpacks loaded with school and grade-specific supplies to the children who are supported by the Citrus County Foster Parent Association and 21 area schools through their Guidance Departments, including all three Dunnellon schools. The lodge used its $2,500 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to purchase the backpacks and supplies, and members and helpers volunteered more than 300 hours to complete the project. The backpacks were delivered to Citrus County foster families and 21 schools in Citrus County and Dunnellon by Aug. 10, the start of the new school year. With the philosophy that a community that supports its children raises citizens who grow up to support their community,” the Inverness Elks are proud to be able to continue this annual program to support the education of local students.

Pictured are some of the backpacks and supplies.

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Written by Mary Kay Burns

Arcadia Elks Lodge #1524 partnered with the DeSoto County School District and the DeSoto County Health Department to host a back-to-school fair at the Turner Center in Arcadia, Florida, July 23. The venue’s parking lot accommodated the large turnout for the drive-thru event. More than 1,400 students received school supplies and the required headphones every student in the district needs, which plug in to their computer that they use every day. Many families cannot afford to purchase them and the school district does not provide them. So, the lodge applied for the Elks National Foundation Beacon and Gratitude grants and received $8,500. With these funds and the help of the school district’s curriculum staff, the school district purchased 1,416 headsets at a discounted price.

School supplies were donated by the DeSoto County Health Department, The Desoto County Sheriff's Department, the DeSoto County School District and all county schools, Senior Friendship Center, DeSoto Memorial Hospital, the Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida, the Salvation Army, the Department of Children and Families, and the Hanley Foundation. All Faiths Food Bank provided food.

On the Thursday and Friday before the event, volunteers from the lodge, school district and health department packed all the bags with the supplies. On Saturday morning, volunteers began to bring the bags outside at 7 a.m. The event was schedule to begin at 8 a.m., but due to the growing line of vehicles already arriving, they opened the gates at 7:30 a.m. Two lanes were formed as the parents drove through the line and volunteers handed supplies into the vehicle. Children were required to be in the vehicles so that the volunteers knew how many bags of supplies to give. Within two hours, all bags had been given. Ten lodge members as well as the school superintendent and all the principals assisted in the event.

Pictured June 28 at the check presentation to the DeSoto County School District for the headphones during a school board meeting are Dr. Bennett, school superintendent; Danny Via, school board member and lodge member; Karen Chancey, school board member; Kelly Mercer, lodge officer; Nancy Higginbotham, Exalted Ruler; Asena Mott, school board chair; and Mary Kay Burns, lodge trustee. Pictured at the event are Mary Kay Burns and Kelly Mercer with the headphones and the line of vehicles waiting for supplies.

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Written by Eustis Elks

Eustis Lodge hosted a teacher appreciation breakfast Aug. 6 for 87 teachers and 20 staff members from 11 elementary schools in the area. Using funds from the charity account, the lodge also donated 20 $50 gift cards, $1,000 worth of school supplies, five $100 cash prizes and $500 in prize items from Learning Store and Walmart for a total of $3,000. Members donated additional school supplies as well. Ron Locke, PDD, Exalted Ruler, thanked them for all they do to develop future leaders.

Pictured are teachers and school staff members.

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Written by Pauline Talbott

When Sebastian Elks Lodge #2714 heard that Pareidolia Brewing was hosting their first open golf scramble July 30 to benefit the Hibiscus Children’s Center, they stepped right up to help make the event a success by recruiting raffle items, goody bag items and sponsors. The lodge was a silver sponsor and the ladies auxiliary, the EL-DOEs, was a tee sponsor. The Hibiscus Children’s Center is a nonprofit organization serving the Treasure Coast of Florida by providing safe nights of care to children and teens who have been abused and neglected. The event was held at Sandridge Golf Club in Vero Beach and raised more than $8,100 for the charity.

Pictured are Mary Ducharme (ladies auxiliary treasurer); Nancy Miller, PDD from Viera Elks Lodge; teen twin volunteers Serena and Sophia Cobble; Pauline Talbott, Lodge Drug Awareness Education Chair; and Loreto Murray, director of outreach and events at Hibiscus Children's Center.

Also pictured are some of the raffle items.

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Written by Suzanne Cunningham

On Aug. 2, five Anna Miller Circle 1578 members packed and distributed school supplies totaling over $1,000 for Triangle Elementary School in Mount Dora. All supplies were donated by Anna Miller Circle members and Eustis Lodge members. The ladies group has a long record of supporting elementary schools, and for many years it has been Triangle Elementary. For the second year they also packed school supplies for The Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties. The Haven received supplies for four elementary school students, four middle school students and three high school students staying at the Haven safe house with their mothers. Including these donations, the total donation value is approximately between $1,200 and $1,400.

Pictured are Beverly Dufresne; Hayden Dufresne, granddaughter; Maryanne Cerney, The Haven Project chair; Sharon McGlon; Chris Getchell, Anna Miller Circle President; and Judy McCarroll.

Also pictured are Debbie Hartog, Triangle Elementary principal, and Chris Getchell.

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Written by Rick Barth, PER

On the evening of June 24 at Port St. Lucie Elks Lodge #2658 during a bingo game, member Mike Keleher was looking at the veterans’ wall of service photos, which honors lodge members who are veterans. As he was looking, he recognized his best friend, who he served with in 1962 but hadn’t seen in 55 years — Harry Keat. Both men were Air Force policemen during the Cuban Missile Crisis stationed at the Air Force base in Homestead, Florida. Mike told April Barth, who runs the bingo program, that he would like to get in touch with Harry. Harry’s wife, Karen, happened to be at the lodge playing bingo, so she called Harry, who came to the lodge in about 15 minutes. When the men were stationed in Florida, they owned a car together. When Mike shipped out, Harry told him he would sell the car and split the money with him. Harry sold the car for $100 and was then shipped out to Vietnam. So, the first thing Harry said to Mike when they were reunited after 55 years was, “I owe you 50 bucks.”

This story was shared by Rick Barth, PER, Lodge Secretary, Harry’s brother-in-law.

Pictured are Harry and Mike in front of the veterans’ photo wall.