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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.

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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.