Every year since 1994, Merritt Island Elks Lodge #2650 has invited the residents of the Melbourne Veterans Transition Facility to the lodge to participate in their traditional Thanksgiving feast. Paul Whitmore is the director of the facility which is a temporary shelter for homeless veterans and their immediate families. The facility provides for the immediate needs of homeless veterans while they search for work and save enough money to acquire permanent housing. This year, 23 guests from the center joined the lodge for dinner. Members John and Marcie Lesko have been instrumental in planning and working this event since the beginning, and they are helped by numerous outstanding volunteers. The Ladies of the Elks put together 18 men’s and six ladies’ bags with the remainder of the supplies donated to the facility for future residents, and they also provided angel tree presents for the five children at the facility. The lodge donated $300-worth of gift cards to augment the needs of the veterans.