Viera Elks Lodge #2817 presented a donation of $2,745 to Operation Shoebox, a central Florida organization which embraces a practical mission of providing hands-on support for troops deployed overseas. The volunteers gather personal comfort items for deployed military members and mail “shoeboxes” overseas of treats to make them feel remembered. Operation Shoebox has delivered over one million boxes and 50,000 stockings to the troops. The lodge’s members have been donating personal items for quite a while, but during their recent visit to the facility in Belleview, Fla., to deliver those items, they learned that the most immediate need is for money to ship the boxes. The lodge decided to donate funds to them instead and reached out to other lodges in the Southeast Central District and raised $2,745. The lodge will continue their support and will encourage the district to do the same for this worthy organization.
Viera Lodge Leading Knight, Vinny Traviglia; Secretary, Patti Traviglia; Esquire, Chris Ferris; and Exalted Ruler, Wendy Carns, present a check for $2,745 to Operation Shoebox volunteer, Helen.