Our Military & Veterans

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Written by JoAnn Reddy

On Aug. 31, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 donated $5,000 to Southeastern Guide Dogs to sponsor training dogs for veterans in need of a service dog. The dogs make a dramatic difference in the veterans’ lives. The funds were raised during a dinner and comedy show held at the lodge.

Tom Sweeney, Lodge Veterans Committee Chair, right, presented the check to Sean Brown and his service dog, Nick, center. Also pictured are Elks members who were given a tour of the facility.

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Written by Ginny Young

Each month, Ann Smith, Fort Pierce Elks Lodge #1520 Leading Knight, mails packages of gifts and snacks to American military members overseas. The items she sends come from lodge members and lodge funds. On special holidays, she asks members to sign cards and includes them in the packages to brighten their holiday.

Fort Pierce Lodge member Rod Dally, PER, a 53-year Elk and Purple Heart recipient, and his wife, Beverly, also a lodge member, deliver gifts, snacks, lap robes and hygiene kits every month to the VA hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the patients and veterans who are experiencing homelessness. The VA hospital recently requested some can openers, so using lodge funds and member donations, Dally purchased them and delivered them on his monthly trip. Dally also made contact with the coordinator at the new VA hospital in Tradition in St. Lucie County, where lodge members will be helping them. He anticipates lodge members going to visit with the patients and brightening their day.

Each first Wednesday of the month, Fort Pierce Lodge donates proceeds from one of its bar games to the lodge veterans account. These funds are used for projects such as the packages sent overseas for military members and items purchased for the West Palm Beach VA Hospital.

Fort Pierce Lodge members recently recorded a video for the Re-Creation video project, which will send recorded messages of thanks to veterans in veterans’ homes and hospitals nationwide.

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Written by South Hillsborough Elks

On July 1, South Hillsborough Elks Lodge #2672 donated $1,000 from its Elks National Veterans Service Commission Freedom Grant to My Warrior’s Place in Ruskin, Florida. My Warrior’s Place is a retreat center for veterans; military service members; law enforcement officers; firefighters; and Gold Star, Blue Star, and Silver Star families. The organization also offers several programs for those who have put their lives on the line for others’ safety and well-being, endured the death of a fallen warrior, or experienced the horrors of war. Each program plays an important role in the healing and coping process. The lodge’s donation will be used to temporarily compensate for a veteran experiencing homelessness to stay in one of the cottages.

Pictured are Kelly Kowal, founder and director of My Warrior’s Place, and Joyce Dominick Schaefer, PER, lodge grant coordinator.

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Written by David Clayton

On Aug. 18, a group from Ocala Elks Lodge #286 split into two teams and went shopping at two Walmart stores for items to make welcome home kits for veterans in the community. The initiative was funded by an Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant. The lodge will partner with Volunteers of America, HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing social workers and other community partners to reach the intended audience. Lodge members will use the items purchased to make basic welcome home kits and work with each veteran on a case-by-case basis depending on the individual's circumstance. The welcome home kits will allow the lodge to address a pressing need in their community, which is assisting homeless veterans to settle into their new home. This allows them to become self-sufficient, have pride in their new home and ultimately leads to increasing their self-esteem.

Pictured are Roy Wimmer; Mike Kuminka; George Cooke, PER; Pam VanNess Kinard; David Clayton; and Della Wimmer, spouse.

Also pictured are Karen Hogan Servers; Kim Hollis-Morrill; Mike Miller, PER; Patricia Miller; Linda Butler Moulton; and George Griffin III, PER.

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Written by Green Cove Springs Elks

On July 10, Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge #1892 used its $1,000 Elks National Foundation Freedom Spark Grant to support Operation Barnabas, a charitable, veteran-founded organization whose mission is to provide support to veterans of northeast Florida. They help with temporary housing, transportation and employment to combat homelessness, provide counseling and mentorships, and assist with education. The lodge donated 25 baskets of cleaning supplies, toiletries and kitchen utensils to support the organization’s transitional housing project. Each basket included a thank-you note for the veteran’s service. The lodge hosted Operation Barnabas staff at their Christmas-in-July event. The Lodge's Past Exalted Rulers Association also donated $1,000 to the organization from its charitable bingo.

Lodge members pictured packing supply baskets are Tracy Carroll, PER, grant coordinator; Joy Elrod, Lecturing Knight; Kathie Thompson, PER; Sandra Mead; Bonnie Conti, Inner Guard; Kristine Watson, House Committee chair; Laquetta WIllimon, Tiler; Bob Russell; Lynn Elrod, Loyal Knight; and Jean Maddox, event coordinator.

Also pictured are (back row) Ben Hickey, Operation Barnabas Board of Directors chair; Jackson Greene, Operation Barnabas communications intern; Tracy Carroll, PER, grant coordinator; and Paul Orvosh, PDD. In the front row are Lynn Elrod, Loyal Knight, and Barbara Thompson, Leading Knight.

An appreciation note is also shown.

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Written by Lisa Frick

On Aug. 10, Sarasota South Elks Lodge #2495 donated its $2,500 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to Infinite Heroes, an extension program of Infinite Wishes Foundation. Infinite Heroes gives respite trips to active-duty military members and veterans who have been combat-wounded and are permanently disabled and/or mobility impaired or have a service-related life-threatening illness. They are given spending money for the trips as well, which serve as much-needed family time.

Pictured are Larry Hildebrand, Exalted Ruler, and Lisa Frick, Infinite Wishes Foundation executive director.