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Written by Diane Hendrick

On March 11, Fort Myers Elks Lodge #1288 donated $2,000 from its Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant to Community Cooperative. The mission of Community Cooperative is to eliminate hunger and homelessness in southwest Florida while simultaneously inspiring and supporting sustained positive change in its clients by delivering innovative food, education and social service programs.

Pictured are David Lake, PSP; John Beckett, Exalted Ruler; Irma Spencer; Jade Bird, Community Cooperative director of development; and Roger Spencer, PER.

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Written by Linda Trawle

On Feb. 3, Titusville Elks Lodge #2113 donated $2,000 to OASIS of Central Florida, which sends care packages to the military five times a year. OASIS representatives and lodge members also packed 350 packages at the lodge. The cost with postage was $11,610.16.

Pictured are lodge and OASIS volunteers as well as three active-duty airmen from Patrick Space Force Base, along with the packages.

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Written by Frank Tamberelli, PSP

On Feb. 3, Port Orange Elks Lodge #2723 was honored at the second annual Mayor’s Gala by Daytona Beach mayor, Derrick Henry. The gala was held at the Daytona Beach Hilton Oceanfront Resort and is the major annual fundraiser to combat homelessness in Volusia County. The lodge received the 2024 Community Champion Award, which is presented to an individual or group that has played a remarkable role in supporting and strengthening their local community through selfless acts of philanthropy and service. The lodge has supported the First Step Homeless Shelter in Daytona Beach since 2019, using funds from the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant and matching funds from the Florida State Elks Association’s Harry-Anna Trust Fund. The lodge has provided metal shelving for both the men’s and women’s dormitories, kitchen equipment, a propane gas grill, and, most recently, five new Hewlett Packard computers. Lodge members cook on the gas grill at least once each month and serve a Saturday lunch to all the residents and staff members. They also interact with the residents and learn their stories, as they truly care that they succeed in returning to society at large. Even during the COVID-19 crisis, lodge members were at the shelter every month. 

Pictured are Frank Tamberelli, PSP, Lodge Advisor; Debra Nordgren, Exalted Ruler; Gary VanOpdorp, trustee and East Central District Vice President; and Derrick Henry, Daytona Beach mayor.

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Written by David Roche

On Feb. 11, Students Working Against Tobacco, Lake County’s branch of the national tobacco-use reduction group, in conjunction with the Eustis Lodge Drug Awareness program, had a table and interacted with more than 50 bingo players as they entered the lodge. The group gave away bags and other swag to the players. The lodge’s Drug Awareness program recently partnered with the group and will be holding more events at the lodge.

Pictured are a student and Sarah MacDonald, director.

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Written by Suzanne Cunningham

On Feb. 10, the Eustis Elks Lodge’s Anna Miller Circle sponsored the annual cake auction to raise funds for the Harry-Anna Trust Fund, which benefits Florida Elks Children's Therapy Services and the Florida Elks Youth Camp. More than 40 cakes, pies and desserts, pictured, were auctioned by Ron Locke, PDD while Beverly Dufresne, Anna Miller President, displayed the cakes and collected the donations, which totaled $2,839. While there are always female Elk members who participate, for the first time in 15 years, three male Elk members baked entries. Locke took a pie to the face to raise additional funds, as did Lauren DiLorenzo, Harry-Anna Trust Fund State Chair.

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Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER

On Jan. 10, Pensacola Beach Elks Lodge #497 donated $4,000 in lodge funds and a $2,000 Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant to Outreach Navarre Inc. for the South Santa Rosa weekend food program. The program provides weekend food packages of meal and snack items to approximately 165 kids who participate in the free lunch program at their schools. Outreach Navarre was founded in August 2015 when two local mothers joined forces to help combat student hunger over the weekends in Navarre.

Pictured are Elks and program volunteers, Dan Smith, PER, lodge trustee; Mike Stahl, food program director; and Henry Lambert.