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
Palm Coast Lodge Raises Funds for Gary Sinise Foundation
- Details
- Written by Palm Coast Elks
Palm Coast Elks Lodge #2709 held a dinner dance fundraiser Nov. 9 for the Gary Sinise Foundation during the lodge’s weekend open house. A total of 76 lodge members and members of the public attended the event which raised $5,000. The foundation honors defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need.
Punta Gorda Lodge Holds Veterans Day Parade
- Details
- Written by Punta Gorda Elks
On Nov. 9, Punta Gorda Elks Lodge #2606 held its annual Veterans Day parade which ran through downtown Punta Gorda, Fla. Several high school bands and many civic organizations were involved. The parade garnered over 1,000 spectators and more than 150 Elks were involved.
Anna Wojtalik, 97, a Navy veteran from a local veterans’ nursing home, acts as grand marshal of Punta Gorda Lodge’s Veterans Day parade.
Elroy the Elk, aka Punta Gorda Lodge office manager, Dawn McIntyre, rides in the Punta Gorda Lodge Veterans Day parade.
Largo Elks Donate Welcome Home Kit to Bay Pines VA
- Details
- Written by Jeanne Reinhart, PDD
On Nov. 4, Largo Elks Lodge members Jeanne Reinhart, PDD and Rudy Fontane delivered the lodge's 30th Welcome Home Kit, a program sponsored by the Elks National Veterans Service, to Nathan Witt, Chief of Voluntary Service at Bay Pines VA Healthcare System in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Elks National Veterans Service will reimburse any lodge up to $300 for the purchase of household items for a veteran moving in to their own home. Usually, these veterans have nothing but the shirts on their backs. Lodge members donate many household items (no furniture) which are also incorporated into the kit. Included in the kit were kitchen utensils, a coffee maker, bed linens, kitchen and bath towels, cleaning supplies, a clock radio, a lamp, light bulbs, batteries, dishes, and much more.
Holley-Navarre Lodge Supports Students of Active-Duty Military Members
- Details
- Written by Ernest DalleMolle
On Nov. 4, Holley-Navarre Elks Lodge #2787, represented by Exalted Ruler, Allen VanDyk, presented a $300 check to members of the Military Family Life Counseling Program committee – teachers Tracy Fischetti, Karen Cody and Carmen Febus – at Navarre High School. The program supports service members, families and survivors with nonmedical counseling worldwide. The check was to help Navarre High School’s Military Student Support (MSS) host their inaugural military appreciation night Nov. 12 in the school cafeteria. There are 488 students at the high school who are military dependents. One of the purposes of this night was to make the active-duty members and students aware of the specific counseling support available to military families as well as to inform them that even though they live off base in Navarre, they have all the opportunities to attend and utilize on-base activities such as the youth center which received a favorable response from the military children. Parents were further introduced to tutor.com for military families which allows dependents of active-duty members access to online tutoring. Overall, this was an opportunity for active-duty military families with students at Navarre High School to hear about the many opportunities that could help make their time as a Navarre Raider a great success.
16th Veteran Receives Home Furnishings from Zephyrhills Lodge
- Details
- Written by Ken Fabiani, PER
On Nov. 3, Jessie Page became the 16th veteran for which Zephyrhills Lodge furnished a new home. The lodge provided Page with a night stand and lamp, love seat, chair table and lamps, dishes, silverware, microwave oven, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, entertainment center, television, shower rod and curtains, sheets and blankets, bath towels, clothes, kitchen towels, coffee pot and coffee, and pillows. Lodge members Tom Pete, Steve Czerneski and PER Ken Fabiani assisted with these donations.
Zephyrhills Lodge Assists 14th Veteran with Housing
- Details
- Written by Ken Fabiani, PER
With open arms, a 14th veteran received his new home furnishings from the Veterans Committee and Zephyrhills Lodge. Jeff Couchman had a smile from ear to ear as the Elks delivered his sofa, chair, ottoman, 32-inch flat screen television, coffee maker, toaster, electric can opener, personal hygiene items, dining room table and chairs, placemats, socks, dish set with four place settings, flatware, crock pot, bath towels and wash cloths, kitchen towels, and dish rags. Pictured are Dave Crotty, member; Jeff Couchman, veteran; and PER Ken Fabiani, Veterans Chairman. Not pictured is member Tom Pete.
13th Veteran Helped into New Home by Zephyrhills Elks
- Details
- Written by Ken Fabiani, PER
On Sept. 27, Zephyrhills Elks Lodge #32731 helped their 13th veteran, James Esser, move into his own place. The Elks provided him with pots, pans, a crock pot, a television, a four-piece dinner set, a large three-piece recliner sofa, a dining room table with four chairs, a coffee maker, bath towels, hand towels, dish towels, a bed pillow, sheets, blankets, 12 polo shirts, a DVD player, and personal hygiene items. Members Tom Pete, David Crotty and PER Ken Fabiani, Veterans Chairman, helped make this happen.
Veterans are Honored at St. Petersburg Lodge's Appreciation Dinner
- Details
- Written by May Graci
On Oct. 26, St. Petersburg Elks Lodge #1224 held their annual USA show and veterans appreciation dinner honoring the dedicated men and women of service of all our United States Armed Forces who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and beyond. The show was a full-scale patriotic event paying tribute to our military. Fred Wall, an Elk from Largo Lodge #2159, was the oldest veteran present. He is 94 years old and served both the Atlantic and the Pacific Theatre during World War II as a Seaman 1st Class in the Navy and had the honor of cutting the cake representing all military branches. Representing the youngest veteran was Amy Evans, U.S. Air Force, who is 50 years old. Proceeds from this event will benefit C.W. Bill Young VAMC. Present at this year’s event were eight veterans who participated in the National Golden Age Games held in Anchorage, Alaska, June 5-10. Proceeds from 2018’s USA show sponsored these veterans’ attendance at the games.
Zephyrhills Elks Provide Coffee to James A. Haley Veterans Hospital
- Details
- Written by Zephyrhills Elks
The Veterans Committee from Zephyrhills Lodge donated coffee (special blend, mixed blends, and decaffeinated) to James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Fla. Janet Lopez from Volunteer Services received the coffee from Ken Fabiani, PER. The coffee will be going to the Spinal Cord Department and Rehab Department on the third floor at Building #38 for veterans in rehab or spinal cord recovery. There are three refreshment rooms the veterans can use any time of the day, but the hospital does not supply the coffee. The donation was worth $1,200.
Southwest District Elks Attend Funeral for Veteran without Family
- Details
- Written by Rose Wujcik
A call went out to the community surrounding the Sarasota National Cemetery for people to attend the funeral of a 90-year-old World War II veteran with no family or friends to attend. The Southwest District heard that call and responded. Representatives from all lodges in the district joined the community with over 2,500 in attendance for the funeral for Edward Pearson Oct. 1.
Among the Elks of the Southwest District attending a veteran’s funeral who had no family or friends to attend are Sherrie and David Gillum of Venice-Nokomis Lodge #1854.
West Citrus Lodge Fundraiser Earns $3,000 for Veterans
- Details
- Written by West Citrus Elks
The West Citrus Lodge Veterans Committee held their 2019 dinner dance fundraiser Sept. 28. It was a great success with over $3,000 raised to assist veterans in the local assisted living facilities throughout the year. The event consisted of music, dancing and a silent auction.
Lake City Lodge Supports Veterans Programs
- Details
- Written by Lake City Elks
Lake City Elks Lodge #893 and veterans volunteer, Capt. Mike Lydick, continue to support the Lake City VA hospital patients and the residents of the Lake City VA Domiciliary, aka The Jenkins Veterans Home. At the hospital, Elks wheelchair gloves are provided as available. Coffee and doughnuts are purchased for the main waiting area. Personal care items, puzzles and playing cards are donated. This summer, the lodge funded four of the summer youth volunteers in the hospital’s program. For homeless veterans, in concert with the VA HUD/VASH, the lodge has been able to avail itself of Welcome Home Kits to help veterans set up a home as one is available. Included in the kits are linens, dishes, flatware, pots and pans, coffee maker, toaster, microwave, and small kitchen items. The lodge has assisted six veterans in this program.