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Written by Diane Sharp

On May 12, Largo Elks Lodge #2159 participated in the national letter carrier food drive at the post office in Largo, Florida. The food drive is held on the second Saturday of May every year. Prior to the drive, the carriers deliver plastic bags to every residence in the country and their customers fill the bags and leave them at their mailboxes. The food is collected by letter carriers and is given to local food banks. This food drive is responsible for millions of pounds of food collected in a single day. Largo Lodge went one step further by paying to have the lodge name and address printed on the bags.

Pictured are members Alice Wallace, Linda Hamby, Paul Gallina, Carolyn Gallina, Bernadine Vehrs, Tom Krieger, Sandy Behm, Wayne Roberts, Georgia Greene, and Shirley Krieger; letter carrier Eric Short and his wife, Michelle; and Diane Sharp, Exalted Ruler.

Helping unload a truck with food donations collected by carriers are Lee Acosta, Carolyn Gallina, Joe Acosta, Georgia Green, Shirley Krieger, carrier Eric Short and Clyve Ferguson.

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Written by Ronna Mason, PER

On May 13, Sebring Lodge held its third annual fishing tournament on Lake Jackson behind the lodge. The Sebring Fire Department assisted in the event, as they do with many lodge events in the community. Twenty-five boats, at an entry fee of $135 per boat, left at sunrise and returned for the 1 p.m. weigh-in. There was a five-bass limit and Allison Rapp, lodge member, and her husband, Brian, did a very professional job sending the boats out in an orderly fashion and overseeing the weigh-in. The team of Virgil Lindsey and Dave Kisner won first place with 9.87 lbs. and received $1,000; the team of Zack Marine and Zack Taylor won second place with 9.67 lbs. and received $750; and Nicholas Gribbin and Ronnie and Michael Westcott won third place with 8.13 lbs. and received $500. The second place team also won $500 for the largest bass, 5.65 lbs. While the teams were fishing, guests at the lodge participated in a bake sale, enjoyed lunch, and were entertained by local artists Shannon Reed and Earl Mandrell. The event had many sponsors, including platinum level sponsors, Bowman Steel and Florida Lake Spa. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds were deposited in the lodge’s charity account and 75% will be used toward needed repairs and upgrades for the lodge. While many of the volunteers who helped put on this tournament are not lodge members, it is a wonderful example of how Sebring Lodge partners with their community. The lodge also gained several new members from this event. 

Pictured from the Sebring Fire Department are Eric Thompson, Steven Dunn, Nicole Beard and Captain Chad Marley.

Also pictured are some of the boats in Lake Jackson.

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Written by Linda Killian

On May 11, during National Nurses Week, the Deep Creek Ladies of Elks presented Cynthia Mezius and Kasia Bundz, each pursuing a career in nursing at the Charlotte Technical College, with a $3,000 scholarship. Both of these young women will graduate in June with their LPN licenses and are going on to further their education to become registered nurses. Every Monday the Ladies of Elks sponsors a game called Show Me the Money, of which the entire proceeds are used for granting scholarships. To date, they have granted 12 scholarships to students from CTC for a total of $27,500 to assist students in furthering their educations and careers.

Pictured are Sue Crady, Ladies of Elks President; Kasia Bundtz; Cynthia Mezius; and Kathie Flecken, Inner Guard.

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Written by Carol Lee Spages

On May 6, New Port Richey Lodge participated in the Pasco Alliance of Substance Addiction Prevention's Pedal for Prevention event to kick off National Prevention Week. The event was held in New Port Richey, Florida. Using their Drug Busters goggles, lodge members invited participants to try them on to experience the effects of being under the influence. People tried catching a ball, walking heel to toe and picking something off the ground. When they failed, they were given a red ribbon to remind them to say no to drugs. Elks Drug Awareness mascot, Elroy, visited, and lodge members handed out more than 500 pieces of Elks drug awareness information.

Pictured are Elroy the Elk (lodge member Elizabeth Groves) and event participant Katheleen Tsalopoulos.

Wearing the goggles is Bonnie Snider, Pasco Alliance of Substance Addiction Prevention coordinator.

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Written by Frank Kuczkowski & Gary VanOpdorp, PER

On April 1, Port Orange Lodge honored Steve Parker with an Elks Distinguished Citizen Award for his outstanding efforts in assisting veterans with returning to their homes after they were displaced by Hurricane Ian. Following the historic flooding in the Port Orange area last year from the hurricane, Parker became aware of local veterans who were displaced. He owns his own construction firm and used his resources, including a considerable amount of his own money, to make the repairs necessary to make the homes habitable. Before the award, Parker had never heard of the Elks, but he has since become a very enthusiastic lodge member.

Pictured are Gary VanOpdorp, PER and Steve Parker.

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Written by Ken Fabiani, PER

On April 26, Keith Guzman and his family moved in to their new home in Tampa, Florida. He is the 247th veteran to have their home furnished by the Zephyrhills Lodge Veterans Committee and the Elks Welcome Home Kits. The committee also provided a 45-inch flat-screen television.

Pictured are the Guzman family with lodge member Jim Cross and volunteer Howard Lundsford. Also assisting was Ken Fabiani, PER.