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Our Military & Veterans
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Raise $5,400 to Build Home for Veteran
- Details
- Written by JoAnn Reddy
The Veterans Committee of Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge hosted a dinner and cabaret show Oct. 22 to raise funds for Homes for Troops. The event raised $5,400 and will help build a home for a wounded veteran.
Pictured is Deb Kehoe, event organizer, holding a picture of Chad Rozanski, one of the past veteran recipients of a home.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Share Grant with Veterans Facility
- Details
- Written by JoAnn Reddy
On Nov. 25, Tom Sweeney, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge Veterans Committee Chair, presented a $2,000 from the Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant to Andy Guyre, Director of Veteran Services at Turning Points. The money will be used for basic needs of the 20 veterans living in the facility.
Sebastian Elks Support Veterans at Transitional Facility
- Details
- Written by Pam Saracene
Members of the Sebastian Lodge Veterans Services Committee provided their monthly dinner and birthday cake for residents at the Veterans' Transitional Facility Oct. 15. They also invited four veterans to the dinner who had recently transitioned into a place of their own who had received welcome home kits from them. Christmas wish lists were discussed with these veterans for the lodge’s giving tree.
New Port Richey Elks Observe Veterans Day with Veteran Recognition
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- Written by Carol Lee
New Port Richey Elks Lodge #2284 provided a meal for 18 veterans at no charge to them on Veterans Day and in honor of the Elks Veterans Remembrance Month. In addition, each veteran received a star from a retired U.S. flag thanking them for their service and a copy of the Veteran’s Creed.
Pictured are Navy veterans Larry Culbertson and Lisa Doak with Marge Smith, Loyal Knight and Elks VAVS Representative.
Fort Walton Elks Participate in Okaloosa County Veteran Stand Down
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
Fort Walton Elks Lodge #1795 utilized the Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant of $1,000 Nov. 2 to provide underwear clothing to female and male veterans at the 2022 Okaloosa County Veteran Stand Down in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. This was the first Stand Down in two years due to the COVID crisis. The community came out in strong support of veterans experiencing homelessness in the community. Veterans in need could get anything from medical and dental screenings to clothing and cold weather gear at these events. Okaloosa County Judge Angela Mason and public defenders were also in attendance to help resolve minor legal issues. Numerous representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies were present to provide housing and benefits assistance to veterans. The Fort Walton Lodge leadership demonstrates that Elks get involved and Elks do what is needed.
Pictured are Michael “Taz” WrightReynolds, PER, Exalted Ruler; Mark Wynn, Inner Guard; Kevin Clemons, PDD, Northwest District Leader; Blake Humphries, member; Paul Eubanks, PER, board chair; and Tom McLaughlin, Leading Knight.
Sebastian Elks Make Donation for Sons of the American Legion POW and MIA Monument
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- Written by Pam Saracene
Sebastian Elks Lodge #2714 donated $500 Oct. 5 to the Sons of the American Legion (SAL) toward a monument they are having made and will be erecting in the veterans’ area of Riverview Park in Sebastian, Florida. The monument will honor POWs and MIAs. Gary Saracene, a member of the Elks and American Legion, and Dan Talbott, Leading Knight, presented the check to SAL members Bob Kahl and Susan Hill at their October SAL meeting.
Veterans Celebrate Football Season with Game Day Meal from Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks
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- Written by JoAnn Reddy
On Oct. 11, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 served game day food, including sub sandwiches, chicken wings, coleslaw, chips and cookies, to 17 veterans at Veterans Village in Bradenton, Florida, to celebrate the football season. The village houses 20 veterans who are transitioning back into society. Funds were provided from the Elks National Foundation Focus Grant.
Pictured are lodge members Charlotte Madara and Bob Goldin, Army veteran.
Veterans Transition to New Homes with Help from Zephyrhills Elks Lodge
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- Written by Ken Fabiani, PER
The Zephyrhills Elks Lodge’s Veterans Services Committee has furnished 207 veterans’ homes. There have been seven new homes furnished using funds from the Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant and from the Welcome Home kits, totaling $30,100. The veterans are all so appreciative to be able to start a new life on their own.
Sebastian Elks Continue Support of Veterans' Transitional Facility
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- Written by Pam Saracene
Members of the Sebastian Lodge Veterans Services Committee provided dinner and birthday cake at the Veterans' Transitional Facility Oct. 15. “Adopted” veterans who had recently transitioned into a place of their own were invited back to the lodge for dinner. Christmas wish lists were discussed for the lodge’s giving tree.
Healing Paws for Warriors Receive Grant from Fort Walton Elks Lodge
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- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On Aug. 22, Fort Walton Elks Lodge #1795 presented Healing Paws for Warriors the $2,000 Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant. This nonprofit organization’s motto is “Bringing awareness to veteran suicide; reducing the numbers one service dog at a time.” Healing Paws for Warriors provides rescue-to-trained ADA-certified service dogs at no cost to combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and military sexual trauma (MST). A study by the Department of Veterans Affairs found that 22 veterans and active-duty members die by suicide every day. Healing Paws for Warriors trains rescue or shelter dogs for the veterans, potentially saving two lives in the process.
Pictured are Paul Eubanks, PER; Mike Arena of Healing Paws for Warriors and his dog, Chip; member Dusty Austin; Tom Knowles, PER; member Blake Humphries; Jamie Clemons, Lodge Secretary; and Michael “Taz” WrightReynolds, PER, Exalted Ruler.
Holley-Navarre Elks Fill Welcome Home Kits for Veterans' New Homes
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- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On July 28, Holley-Navarre Elks Lodge #2787 members Ben Gray, Veterans Committee Chair; TJ Carey, PER, Exalted Ruler; Charlie Mussari; and Skip Dalle Molle bought and assembled five boxes of household goods, including dishware, pots, pans and supplies necessary to initially stock a veteran’s new apartment. These home kits are part of the 2023 Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant awarded to the lodge for Project Welcome Home. This was the first half of the grant used and it cost $1,153 for these kits. Kits were given to the local Veterans Administration facility at Eglin Air Force Base for distribution to qualified veterans who are moving into HUD housing. Due to rising prices and costs, the additional five kits will be assembled and delivered at a later date and any additional costs will be covered from the lodge charity fund. Also presented in each kit is a star cut from a U.S. flag from the retirement box with the phrase, “As long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.”
Pictured are Ben Gray, Skip Dalle Molle and Charlie Mussari. Also pictured are Ben Gray, Charlie Mussari and Eric VanDerMollen, VA representative, with the kits in the background. Also shown is the star and lodge note.
Englewood Elks Continue to Support Community Veterans
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- Written by Englewood Elks
Paul Colicci Jr., Englewood Elks Lodge #2378 Veterans Committee Chair, and member Joyce Sousa have been busy since the beginning of the year rounding up and delivering donations for veterans. To date, Colicci and Sousa have collected and delivered 73 crocheted blankets, 37 bags of clothing, five boxes of personal items, three boxes of kitchen items, one small appliance and a grill to the Port Charlotte Florida Homeless Coalition to assist individuals and families in need of food and shelter. They have also been collecting shoeboxes for the lodge’s adopt-a-box veterans program. The shoeboxes are all wrapped, mostly by Sousa, and are ready to be “adopted” by lodge members and friends of the Elks and filled with supplies of their choosing for veterans with items such as shampoos, conditioners, razors, soaps, lotions, socks, candies, books, magazines, cards and any small personal items the veterans might enjoy having.
Pictured by a car full of donations are Paul Colicci Jr. and Joyce Sousa. Also pictured are all the shoeboxes wrapped by Sousa.