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Written by Dayna Miller & Dina Atalig

In November and December, Gainesville Elks Lodge #990 used its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant and matching funds from the Harry-Anna Trust Fund and partnered with local charities to provide food to more than 225 families throughout the holidays.

On Nov. 20, the lodge provided a turkey and $25 gift card to 36 foster families and single mothers through One More Child to help with a Thanksgiving meal. One More Child provides assistance to children who are hungry, in foster care or trafficked and to single mothers and struggling families in Alachua and surrounding counties. Pictured are Valerie Sanchez, licensing specialist; Mary Griffis, single moms supervisor; Melissa King, director of partnership; Lois Lembke, Gainesville administrative assistant; Dina Atalig, grant coordinator; and Brittany Sammons, supervisor foster care for Gainesville.

On Dec. 18, the lodge gave Christmas gifts from an angel tree to residents in the Fern House at Tacachale, the oldest and largest community for Floridians with developmental disabilities.  

On Dec. 20, the Lodge used grant funds to provide food to 22 families in need by partnering with Family Promise, a charity that helps provide shelters and food to families experiencing homelessness. Pictured Dec. 19 shopping for food at Walmart is Lecturing Knight, BJ Sullivan. Pictured delivering the food are Bobby Andreu, Exalted Ruler; BJ Sullivan; and BJ’s grandson, Damon Laboissoniere.

On Dec. 21, the lodge again supported One More Child by providing hams for Christmas meals to 17 foster families and single mothers. Pictured are Melissa King, director of partnership; Lois Lembke, Gainesville administrative assistant; Demetri Semper, licensing supervisor; and Anne Chastain, northeast regional director of foster care staff.

On Dec. 21, lodge volunteers provided food and assistance to the First Canaan United Methodist Church Christmas food drive in Waldo. Pictured are Rita Puentes, member; Dina Atalig, grant coordinator; Bobby Andreu, Exalted Ruler; Pastor Izzy; and BJ Sullivan, Lecturing Knight.

On Dec. 21, veteran Autumn, a recipient from Veterans Homeless to Home program (Secretary Linda Califf’s program), received a 20 lb. turkey from Publix with a $100 Walmart gift card for Christmas.

On Dec. 22, the lodge donated 20 hams for veterans for Christmas meals and $50 Publix gift cards to the Honor Center in Gainesville, which provides programs for homeless veterans. Pictured are Dr. Jerry Sartain, VAVS representative, and Dina Atalig, grant coordinator.

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Written by Deborah Reedy, PER

Jacksonville Elks Lodge #221 was contacted by Carley Stepien of Wheelchairs 4 Kids in October to help obtain a therapy tricycle for a 5-year-old Jonas from the Jacksonville area, who has cerebral palsy. It was not covered by medical insurance and his family could not afford it. By early December, a total of $2,920 was collected to pay for the tricycle in full. Donations came from Jacksonville, Orange Park, Gainesville, St. Augustine and Green Cove Springs lodges as well as personal donations from members. Lodge members Mark Thompson and Brent Reedy assembled the tricycle. On Dec. 20, Jacksonville Lodge held a small reception for the family to present the tricycle to Jonas. The Dillhyon family was so grateful for this gift. Rae Montgomery, physical therapist from Florida Elks Childrens Therapy Services, was there to show Jonas and his family how to use the tricycle and to explain its functions.

Pictured in the back row are Bill Dillhyon, father; Pat Harris, donor; Jerry (last name unavailable), Orange Park Lodge member; John Pipkins; Donnie Rowand, donor; and Brent Reedy, donor. In the second row are Cathy Rowand, donor; FECTS Rae Montgomery, PT; David Graham, Exalted Ruler and donor; and Kathy Glass. Down front: in the front row are Katie, sister; Jonas; and Amanda, mother. Also pictured is Jonas using the tricycle with direction from Rae Montgomery, PT.

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Written by Cristin Rumler

On Dec. 16, Sanford Lodge hosted its third annual Christmas for Kids event, with more than 100 children in attendance and 300 people in total. Local kids and their families enjoyed a pizza lunch, hot cocoa bar, crafts, cookie decorating, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The children also received goody bags with a $10 Chic-Fil-A gift card. Members took photos of the event and portraits of the children with Santa, which were available to the families for free through their website. This event is budgeted through the lodge and members also donated funds for the event.

Pictured are Santa and Mrs. Claus receiving a warm welcome from a child, lodge members who worked the event, kids decorating cookies, Santa and Mrs. Claus showing off the drawings and ornaments made for them by the kids, the cookie decorating station, and an overall photo of the event.

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Written by Bradenton Elks

The Bradenton 1511 Elks Riders chapter held three fundraising events to support its annual brain-injured child (BIC) project. This year’s recipient was Atticus Jimenez, a 3-year-old diagnosed with gastroschisis (excess brain fluid) and CNS sarcoma, a bone and soft tissue tumor. A lottery board raffle Oct. 30 raised $2,200. A combined poker run/meat bingo/silent auction Nov. 18 raised $3,000. On Nov. 21, a gift card raffle added $2,500. With a $1,000 donation from the Nov. 12 lodge golf tournament, the total given to the family was $8,700.

Pictured from the top left are Rod and Becky Rodenberry, lodge members; Tonio, father; Zaxton, brother; Lindsay, mother; and Atticus. 

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Written by Manasota Elks

On Dec. 1, Manasota Elks Lodge #2734 donated 158 T-shirts for Abel Elementary School’s third annual Color Splash Walk-a-Thon on campus. It is the school’s largest fundraiser and the donations are used for learning gains, parties and celebrations of student growth. The event raised approximately $17,000, which will be used for parties to celebrate the students going above and beyond in their learning.

Pictured covered in brightly colored dust are fifth grade teacher Marry Dalton and her students enjoying popsicles after participating in the walk-a-thon.

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Written by Mary Lou Scribner, PER

On Dec. 17, the Brandon Ladies of Elks and lodge members hosted a Christmas pajama party for Family Forever, an organization that finds forever homes for children in foster care. At this time, the organization has around 2,000 children in need of homes. Approximately 200 people attended this event, including foster parents and more than 100 children. There were snowball fights, a hot chocolate bar and a delicious meal for the children. Each child received a shopping bag to go around to tables to select Christmas items, toiletries, socks, pajamas and blankets, supplied by Family Forever. There was also a station for the children to secretly select gifts for their parents, which were wrapped by Brandon Lodge and Ladies member, Charlene Hart, and her friend. Each child had a visit with Santa (Elk James Lair) and picked out a toy from the Walgreens annual gift drive. The event was put on by Past Lady President Terri Ciesla, chair; 15 Ladies and lodge volunteers; and helpers from Family Forever. The Brandon Ladies of Elks raised $1,838.49 from Bunco Nights to support the event and purchase gifts. In addition, lodge members chose children's names from wish list cards and donated gifts for specific children. The lodge also donated $1,100 from its charity account for gifts for an additional 29 children. Ciesla said the day was truly "Christmas. This is what Elks do…we help children.”

Pictured are guests in the hall, the parents’ gifts station, and Mary Lou Scribner, PER and Charlene Hart.