Our Military & Veterans

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Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER

On March 20, Fort Walton Elks Lodge #1795 made a $500 donation to the Army of Hope with funds raised by the raffle of a backet that Jamie Clemons, Lodge Secretary, put together with donated items. The Northwest District has a large population of active duty military members and veterans as neighbors in each community.

Pictured are the cooler and items in the raffle.

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Written by Cathy Walsh & Randy Cook

St. Augustine Lodge #829 members Randy Cook, PER and Dianne Cook provide ongoing support to the veterans at Clyde E. Lassen Veterans Nursing Home by visiting with residents on the first Monday of each month. They bring a birthday cake and balloons every month to celebrate with the residents, and often they include cards or buttons made for the veterans by students at R.B. Hunt Elementary School. On Jan. 17, they delivered a large-screen television donated on behalf of the lodge.

Randy and Dianne Cook are pictured with three veterans. Also pictured are a monthly cake, buttons and a card made by a student.

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Written by Green Cove Springs Elks

On Feb. 25, Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge members and volunteers delivered games, puzzle books, cards, puzzles, stationery, stamps and pens to residents at Clyde Lassen Veterans Nursing Home. These items were purchased using the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant, and the remaining funds were donated to the nursing home.

Pictured are Rick Kunze, PER; Rajimi Alicia, Lassen Home activities office; Gene Rittenhouse, PDD; Linda Rittenhouse, PSP-FLOE; Teresa Lewis, U.S. Army veteran and Lassen resident; Elinore Williams, lodge volunteer; Wendy Hughson, member; Kathy Hughson, lodge volunteer; Penny Kunze, member; Greg Hughson Jr., member; Izzy Hughson, lodge volunteer; and Greg Hughson, PDD. Also pictured are Cattibell Rodriguez, Lassen Home business office; Rick Kunze, PER; and Al Williams, Exalted Ruler.

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Written by Becky Wills

Viera Elks Lodge #2817 participated in the 25th annual Stand Down to Stand Up for Veterans, which took place Jan. 21 at the Cocoa Armory. The event is primarily organized by the Veterans Memorial Center, but it is supported by local charitable organizations and service providers, such as doctors and dentists. The number of at-risk veterans is usually matched or exceeded by the number of volunteers. The lodge’s effort was led by member and veteran Bruce Campbell. Members donated gift cards, nonperishable food items, underwear and household goods, which Campbell delivered to the event in the name of the lodge.

Viera Lodge also formed a new alliance with Homes for the Homeless, an organization that assists residents of Brevard County who are homeless or who have low incomes. They help individuals, children and families. They also provide housing for the elderly and people who are disabled or have mental illness who would otherwise have nowhere to go, and they rehabilitate neighborhood slums into attractive, affordable homes. These services help to eliminate housing instability and self-medication or drug and alcohol addictions, which will reduce hospitalization, associated criminal activity and incarceration, saving Brevard County thousands of tax dollars. The lodge has made several donations to program residents from the Elks National Foundation Focus Grant, including $500 Feb. 1 for auto repairs, $168 Feb. 22 for rental assistance, and $128 Feb. 22 for auto insurance assistance. On Feb. 8 the lodge also donated $300 to the organization. Additionally, the lodge donated $128 to assist Cocoa Elks Lodge pay for tuition for a local veteran.

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Written by South Miami/Coral Gables Elks

South Miami/Coral Gables Elks Lodge members Fred Jaca Jr., PDD, District Veterans Services Chair, and Rick Del Vecchio, lodge grant writer, met via Zoom with four Miami VA representatives Dec. 22 and were informed of a need for various items to assist the veterans at their facility. The lodge applied for and received the Elks National Foundation Beacon and Spotlight grants to purchase the items. On Feb. 26, lodge members and guests gathered to fill and pack 175 gift packs for distribution to the veterans in the Miami area who are homeless. There were 100 bags for females that included toiletries from Bath and Body Works, protein bars, dried fruit packs, laundry detergent, and a $15 food gift card. There were 75 bags for males that included an Elks canvas backpack filled with bottles of water, laundry detergent, protein bars, dried fruit packs and a $15 food gift card. On March 1, lodge members Frank Sullivan, Mike Poller, and Rick Del Vecchio delivered the packages to staff members at the VA Healthcare facility in Miami. The VA staff members then delivered the packages to each of the veterans. The total value of the items was more than $6,000, as Bath and Body Works donated approximately $600 in toiletries, enabling the lodge to help an additional 25 female veterans.

Pictured are lodge members packing the items. Also pictured are Mernie Williams of the VA Healthcare and members Rick Del Vecchio, Frank Sullivan, and Mike Poller.

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Written by Linda Killian

In its ongoing support of veterans, Deep Creek Elks Lodge #2763 members Peggie Sue Dygert, who is also a member of the Charlotte County Veterans Council; Kay Neilley, PDD; and Cheryl Usowicz recently used funds from the $3,000 Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant to shop for needed items requested by residents at the Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Port Charlotte, Florida.