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Our Military & Veterans
South Hillsborough Elks Salute High School Seniors Entering the Military
- Details
- Written by Chuck Stieb, PER
On April 22, South Hillsborough Elks Lodge #2672, in coordination with the national Our Community Salutes organization and the DeSoto Masons, participated in a greater Tampa Bay ceremony at the Egypt Shriners temple to honor the nation's newest upcoming service members. Our Community Salutes recognizes and supports high school seniors who plan to enlist in the military immediately after high school graduation. OCS also provides the seniors with resources that aid in their transition into military service. There were 146 high school seniors who were recognized. Guest speakers included some from OCS, military retirees and a Brigadier General, who also performed a mock oath of enlistment. All the services were represented. There were more than 300 people attending, including parents, guardians, families, friends, OCS, Elks and Mason members.
Pictured in front is Steve Conrad, PER, trustee. In the back row are Tom Anderson, member; Chuck Stieb, PER, trustee; Sugar Conrad, Exalted Ruler; Bev Wohlrab, member; Brigadier General Cogbill; John Wohlrab, member; Ryan Wentworth, chaplain; and Janet Meyer, trustee.
Hollywood West Elks Recognized for Support of Sandy Nininger Nursing Home
- Details
- Written by Hollywood West Elks
Hollywood West Elks Lodge #2365 members were recognized April 28 at a luncheon at the Sandy Nininger Nursing Home for their volunteerism and constant support.
Pictured are members Cyndee Freeman, Edward Morin, John Allison and Shelly Sarros.
New Port Richey Elks Recognize Armed Forces Day with Cookie Delivery to Military Recruitment Center
- Details
- Written by Carol Lee Spages
On May 23, in honor and recognition of Armed Forces Day, New Port Richey Lodge members delivered a tray of cookies and a thank you poster to the personnel at the military recruitment center in New Port Richey, Florida.
Pictured are Navy Chief Robert Davis; Elizabeth Groves, Air Force veteran; Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Gio DeSantis; and Fred Spages, PER, Air Force veteran.
Brandon Elks Donate Bingo Prizes for Veterans Picnic
- Details
- Written by Mary Lou Scribner, PER
Brandon Elks Lodge #2383 donated $120 in gift cards and $55 in art supplies and magazines to be used as bingo prizes during the annual picnic for James A. Haley Hospital veterans April 14, which was held at the Veterans’ Memorial Park and was put on by the hospital’s Medical Foster Program. The picnic had a large number of veterans and caregivers in attendance.
Pictured is recreation therapist Kathryn Brant of James A. Haley Hospital.
Tampa Elks Donate Items to Veterans in Need at Local Veterans' Hospital
- Details
- Written by Rita Smith, PER
On May 3, Tampa Elks donated more than $500 worth of shampoo, T-shirts, underwear, combs and brushes to James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital for the veterans who have very little and are in need of help. Edie Hanley, lodge member and Elks Deputy Representative to the hospital, had been given a shopping list of requested items by Angela Reinhart, voluntary services coordinator the hospital, and made the purchases.
Pictured are Edie Hanley and Angela Reinhart.
Jacksonville Elks Collect Food Donations for Northeast Florida Women Veterans Inc.
- Details
- Written by Karen Tracy
In honor of Women's History Month, Jacksonville Lodge collected 109 nonperishable food items and two $50 grocery gift cards in March and April for the Northeast Florida Women Veterans Inc. Their Operation HandUP program distributes nonperishable food and personal hygiene items to women veterans who are homeless or sleeping in their cars.
Pictured May 1 are Amy and Natalie, staff members; Karen Tracy, Esquire and Lodge Veterans Chair; and Carole Shapley, PER, chaplain.
Jacksonville Elks Deliver Welcome Home Kit to Veteran
- Details
- Written by Karen Tracy
On March 30, Jacksonville Elks Lodge #221 delivered a Welcome Home Kit to veteran Mike, who was transitioning into his new home. He had been living in his truck while completing the Five Star Veterans Center program. The kit included small appliances and household essentials as well as donated furniture from the lodge, lodge members and a local ministry.
Pictured are David Graham, PER, Exalted Ruler; veteran Mike; and Karen Tracy, Esquire and Lodge Veterans Chair.
Zephyrhills Elks Provide Home Furnishings for Two More Veterans
- Details
- Written by Ken Fabiani, PER
Army veteran Ezonlain Gohan and his family moved in to their new home in Tampa, Florida, April 28 with help from Saint Vincent de Paul, the Elks National Foundation and the Zephyrhills Lodge Veterans Committee.
Pictured are the Gohan family and volunteer Howard Lundsford.
Veteran Danny Vickers moved in to his new home in Tampa, Florida, May 1. It was fully furnished with help from the Elks National Foundation Welcome Home Kit and the Zephyrhills Lodge Veterans Committee as well as St. Vincent de Paul. Pictured with Vickers is volunteer Howard Lundsford.
Veterans in Nursing Home Get Visit from Elks VAVS Representatives
- Details
- Written by Carol Lee Spages
On April 12, VAVS representative Marge Smith and deputy representative Marilee Mills, PER played bingo with 16 veterans residing at Baldomero Lopez State Veterans' Nursing Home. They also donated a $100 a VA stipend to the canteen in the facility so the residents could purchase personal items.
St. Petersburg Elks Deliver Gifts to Bay Pines VA for Military Baby Shower
- Details
- Written by Virginia Warfield
On May 3, St. Petersburg Lodge donated $1,500 worth of baby monitors, playpens, nursing pillows, bottles, onesies and burping cloths to the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Military Mommies Baby Shower. Lodge members also donated knitted blankets, pacifiers, socks, hats and other items.
Pictured with items purchased using a $1,500 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant are Heidi Green, Exalted Ruler; Edgardo Solivan, Bay Pines volunteer services specialist; and Johnny Miller, Elks Bay Pines VA representative.
Pictured with items donated by lodge members are Brian Haverfield, Leading Knight, and Heidi Green.
Largo Elks Lodge Delivers 100th Welcome Home Kit to Veteran
- Details
- Written by Jeanne Reinhart, PDD
On April 21, Veterans Committee members from Largo Elks Lodge #2159 delivered Welcome Home Kit No. 100 to Bay Pines VA in St. Petersburg, Florida. The veteran who received the kit, her HUD VASH social worker and staff from Voluntary Services were present to accept the delivery from lodge members. Jeanne Reinhart, PDD has worked on this project for several years; Ola Joseph is now assisting her. This project is supported by Elks National Veterans Service Commission.
Pictured are Georgia Greene; Bob Behm, Lodge Veterans Committee Chair; Sandy Behm; Ronald Messer, Bay Pines Voluntary Services assistant chief; Jeanne Reinhart, PDD; Carrie, veteran; Kim Treanor, LCSW; Sonja Lopez, PER, District Vice President; and Ola Joseph. Not pictured is Frank Jones, Voluntary Services chief.
Naples Elks Lodge Sponsors Fishing Trip for Veterans
- Details
- Written by Naples Elks
On April 15, Naples Elks Lodge #2010 partnered with Wounded Warriors of Collier County to host 12 veterans in appreciation of their service. The day started with a dockside breakfast before departing from Tin City Dock in Naples, Florida, on Pure Florida’s 43’ Sea Flight. After a day of catching fish and sharing stories, everyone enjoyed lunch, which was provided by the lodge. Geidy Lopez, veterans case manager, assisted in gathering the crew and joined the fishing trip. She also caught the first fish. Funds for this outing were obtained from the $650 that was raised from the sale of Elks shirts and personal donations from Mike Adamski, Antlers coordinator, and Brian Kamp, lodge grants coordinator.
The veterans are pictured on the boat with Geidy Lopez, veterans case manager, front left.