News Features
P.O. Box 49
Umatilla, FL 32784-0049
Share Your Story
We'd love to see & share your Lodge & District Events!
Let's promote what our Florida Elks are doing to support your community
Preserve any person, event, or memory with a personalized brick at your Florida Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla, Florida.
Learn More
Our Military & Veterans
Cocoa Beach Elks Provide More than 600 Welcome Home Kits to Veterans Transitioning to Permanent Housing
- Details
- Written by Bobbie Vance
On Jan. 25, Cocoa Beach Elks Lodge #2387 reached a milestone of providing a total of 607 Welcome Home Kits, valued at $163,364 worth of supplies for veterans who are homeless and transitioning to permanent housing. The lodge is ranked second in the nation for the number of veterans served with these kits. Each month, lodge volunteers shop with veterans, who are humbled and thankful to have assistance getting their homes started. The lodge coordinates with Volunteers of America in Cocoa, Housing for Homeless in Rockledge, Support Services for Veterans Families in Cocoa and Dollar General Store Manager John Swartout in Cocoa Beach. The Welcome Home Kit program is funded by the Elks National Veterans Service Commission.
Pictured are a thankful veteran and member Linda Ireland; member and Army veteran Dan Burger with a veteran; and a veteran with his family after shopping for their Welcome Home Kits.
Bonita Springs-Estero Elks Host Car Show for Army of Hope
- Details
- Written by Shirley Thompson
Bonita Springs-Estero Elks Lodge #2753 hosted its annual car show Jan. 21 to benefit the Army of Hope. Thirty-one Elks volunteered at the event. The show featured 88 cars from both members and nonmembers. There were six classes from the 1900s to 2023, stock and modified, and best of show. The event included an Elks membership table as well as T-shirt sales, a chance auction and two 50/50 drawings. The opening ceremony was performed by the Guns n Hoses Pipes n Drums, a group of first responders wearing kilts marching and playing bagpipes. The event raised $6,880.39 for the Army of Hope.
Pictured are Jack Chickerillo (a member of Oak Lawn/Chicago Ridge, IL Lodge #2254 waiting to demit to Lodge #2753) and Pete Thompson, PER raising the flag and members of the Guns n Hoses Pipes n Drums.
Veterans Join Tampa Elks for Gasparilla Celebration
- Details
- Written by Rita Smith
On Jan. 28, eight veterans from New Beginnings joined approximately 250 Tampa Elks Lodge members celebrating Gasparilla in Tampa, Florida. The day included breakfast, games, a boat parade, and bag lunches and soft drinks.
The veterans are pictured with Debbie Brennan, Lodge Veterans Committee Secretary (fourth from left); Rita Smith, Exalted Ruler (sixth from left); José Remon, Lodge Veterans Committee Chair (second from right); and member Norman Benzing (far right).
Zephyrhills Elks Continues to Furnish Veterans' Homes in New Year
- Details
- Written by Ken Fabiani, PER
Cale Brown started his new year off right Jan. 4 by moving in to his new home near Bay Shore in Tampa, Florida. Brown felt relieved to have a place to call home. Army veteran John Newman and his family moved in to their new home in Riverview, Florida, Jan. 16. He, his wife and their four daughters were so happy to have a place of their own. Their homes were furnished using funds from the Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant and the Welcome Home Kit project as well as home furnishings from the Zephyrhills Lodge Veterans Committee. Assisting in the furnishing of these homes were lodge members Don Falaas, Larry Decena, and Ken Fabiani, PER, Veterans Chair.
New Port Richey Elks Participate in Wreaths Across America
- Details
- Written by Carol Lee Spages
New Port Richey Elks Lodge #2284 participated in a Wreaths Across America ceremony by placing 558 wreaths on the graves of veterans interred at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in New Port Richey. Over 100 lodge members and the public attended.
Pictured are John Herig Jr., event chair and five-year trustee; Sue Payton; Robert Payton, U.S. Coast Guard; and John Herig Sr., U.S. Army veteran. They are laying a wreath on the grave of U.S. Navy veteran Robert Payton.
Tallahassee Elks Host Christmas Dinner for Veterans in Need
- Details
- Written by Tom Walden, PDD
On Dec. 18, Tallahassee Elks Lodge opened its doors to help Havana American Legion Post #84 host a free Christmas dinner for homeless veterans as well as other veterans in need and their families. Roast turkey and side dishes were prepared by the local Millers Ale House restaurant. About 120 folks attended the dinner and participated in a bingo game afterward. Lodge officers were on hand to help with set up and host the event.
Fort Pierce Elks Support Community Veterans
- Details
- Written by Ginny Young
On Dec. 13, Rod Dally, PER, trustee, and Beverly Dally delivered requested supplies to Veterans Volunteer Services in West Palm Beach, Florida, assisting veterans experiencing homelessness. On Dec. 22, they delivered containers of cookies to each of the 20 patients at the new Ardie R. Copas State Veterans' Nursing Home in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Each month, the lodge dedicates the revenue from a night of bar games for their veterans’ fund. Don Pritchett, trustee, recently signed the lodge up as a volunteer at that facility on a weekly basis.
Pictured at the cookie delivery are Don Pritchett, 1-year trustee; Betty Foster, Exalted Ruler; Bev and Rod Dally, Veterans Co-Chairs; Deb Doherty, founder of DDS4Vets, which helps veterans who are returning home or who have PTSD and trains dogs for veterans; and Gail Van Horn.
Fort Walton Elks Lay Wreaths on Veterans' Graves for Wreaths Across America
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On Dec. 17, members of Fort Walton Lodge participated in the Wreaths Across America event at Beal Memorial Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Along with veterans’ groups, they assisted in laying 1,300 remembrance wreaths on the graves of veterans and saying the name of every veteran aloud. This annual endeavor has three missions — to remember the fallen, to honor those who serve and to teach children the value of freedom.
Pictured in the front row are Mark Wynn, Inner Guard; Marcia WrightReynolds, Lecturing Knight; and Collette Willey. In the back row are Blake Humphries; Paul Willey, PER, 4-year trustee, “Taz” WrightReynolds, PER, Exalted Ruler; and Tom McLaughlin, Leading Knight.
“Taz” WrightReynolds is also pictured presenting a remembrance wreath on the grave of his father, MSgt. Donald E. Reynolds, USAF Ret., a veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Destin Elks Deliver Gifts to Veterans Nursing Home Residents
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On Dec. 9, Destin Elks Lodge #2688 used part of its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant of $4,000 and provided numerous gifts to more than 20 veterans who reside at the Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans Nursing Home in Panama City, Florida. Located in Bay County, the home is a modern, state-of-the-art 120-bed facility, which is operated and maintained by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.
Pictured are Robert Griffin, Terri Griffin, Henri Kelly and Tami Snow.
Pensacola Beach Elks Deliver Gifts to Veterans at Four Assisted Living Facilities
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On Dec. 19, Pensacola Elks Lodge #497 utilized its Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant of $3,000 and added monies from the lodge charity account for a total of $4,689 to provide more than 100 gifts to the veterans and their spouses residing in four assisted living facilities — The Blake at Pensacola, The Waterford at Carpenter’s Creek, Bayside Health & Rehabilitation Center, and The Camellia at Gulf Breeze. This partnership and lodge commitment with these facilities will continue throughout the year, including monthly visits to have coffee and doughnuts with the veterans. The lodge is also working with the facility directors for specific needs.
Pictured are Clyde Losey; Charline Wetzel Blake, activity director; Col. Pam McGinty, USAF ret.; Michael Smith; Libby Mayhugh; Amy Loranger; Stanley Tarter; Ken “KB” Branch, PER; Jack Countryman; Shelli Branch; Les Darbyshire; Betty Hooper; Billy Bush; Will Berry; Sgt. Smith, U.S. Army; Capt. A.J., USMC; Kim Taylor; and Carey Seigle. Also pictured are Virginia Tew, 101, who worked at the Pentagon in World War II, and Ken “KB” Branch, PER, and Libby Mayhugh and Col. Pam McGinty, USAF ret.
Local Veterans Honored with Dinner at Eustis Elks Lodge
- Details
- Written by Margaret Schnichels
For Veterans Day, Eustis Elks Lodge #1578 invited all veterans from the Fort McCoy Veterans Village and lodge veterans to a free dinner; approximately 55 attended. The dinner was funded by the lodge charity account.
Pictured are three World War II veterans, Leon “Spike” Spychalski, Jake Conn, and Ray Savior, with Ron Locke, PDD, Exalted Ruler (second from left).
Clewiston Elks Honor Veterans at Lodge Ceremony
- Details
- Written by Clewiston Elks
Clewiston Elks Lodge #1853 hosted a veterans appreciation ceremony and dinner Nov. 17. The Clewiston High School Public Service Academy, pictured, presented the flag at the ceremony and recalled the history and significance of every turn and fold for the audience. Veteran Frank Sellers, PDD, Elks Representative to the VA, gave a compelling speech and gifts were given to the veterans.