Our Military & Veterans

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Written by Estelle Dichazi

On Oct. 17, Englewood Elks Lodge presented a donation of $500 to Fish’n for Heroes Wounded Warriors Inc. This organization takes veterans on a fishing trip; afterward, the veterans are taken to a restaurant where the fish they caught is prepared for them. The lodge’s donation covers four veterans and a helper. This donation was possible in part from the lodge’s Elks National Foundation Anniversary Grant with additional ongoing fundraising to support veterans projects.

John Dichazi, Englewood Lodge Exalted Ruler; James O’Brien, President of Fish’n for Heroes; Debbie O’Brien, Treasurer of Fish’n for Heroes; and Paul Colicci, Veterans Committee Chairman, take part in Englewood Elks’ donation presentation to Fish’n for Heroes Oct. 17.

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Written by Becky Wills

Viera Elks Lodge #2817 presented a donation of $2,745 to Operation Shoebox, a central Florida organization which embraces a practical mission of providing hands-on support for troops deployed overseas. The volunteers gather personal comfort items for deployed military members and mail “shoeboxes” overseas of treats to make them feel remembered. Operation Shoebox has delivered over one million boxes and 50,000 stockings to the troops. The lodge’s members have been donating personal items for quite a while, but during their recent visit to the facility in Belleview, Fla., to deliver those items, they learned that the most immediate need is for money to ship the boxes. The lodge decided to donate funds to them instead and reached out to other lodges in the Southeast Central District and raised $2,745. The lodge will continue their support and will encourage the district to do the same for this worthy organization.

Viera Lodge Leading Knight, Vinny Traviglia; Secretary, Patti Traviglia; Esquire, Chris Ferris; and Exalted Ruler, Wendy Carns, present a check for $2,745 to Operation Shoebox volunteer, Helen.

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Written by Estelle Dichazi

On Oct. 1, Englewood Elks Lodge’s Exalted Ruler, John Dichazi, and Veterans Committee chairman and co-chairman, Paul Colicci and Joyce Sousa, visited four area veterans nursing facilities to deliver new 43"-televisions for the common rooms. Packages for each facility containing socks, hats, puzzles, games and books were also donated. This program to enrich the lives of area veterans was funded in part by the lodge’s Elks National Foundation Anniversary Grant.

John Dichazi, Englewood Lodge Exalted Ruler; Pauline Harris, 100-year-old veteran; Joyce Sousa and Paul Colicci, Veterans Committee co-chairman and chairman; and Jenny Kennaner, Springs of South Biscayne assistant director, take part in Englewood Lodge’s television presentation to one of four veterans nursing facilities Oct. 1.

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Written by Jeanne Reinhart

Members of the Largo Lodge Veterans Committee recently delivered the 11th welcome-home kit to the C.W. Bill Young VAMC. The kits are designed for veterans leaving the VA to live independently in their own residence and include small appliances, kitchen utensils, towels, bathroom accessories, bedding, paper products, lamps, dishes and any other items that might be necessary to set up a household. Some items are purchased and some are donated by lodge members. This project is supported by the National Elks Veterans Service.

Jeanne Reinhart, PDD delivers a welcome-home kit from Largo Lodge to C.W. Bill Young VAMC in St. Petersburg, Fla. Nathan Witt, Chief of Voluntary Service at the VAMC, accepts the donation.

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Written by Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks

On Aug. 11, 140 people celebrated veterans at a special dinner and dance. Veterans were treated to a free dinner and a goody bag consisting of a t-shirt and hat. The dinner was catered by Dickies BarBQue and entertainment was provided by Lynn’s Spins.

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Written by Southwest District

Jennifer, an Army wife who was advised of the Army of Hope by the Florida Army National Guard, reached out to the program because her family is experiencing a hardship. She is the mother of Daphne, three, and Sophia, 12. Her husband is currently on deployment in Kuwait. as Jennifer explains, “Sophia was born with a chromosomal anomaly which presents many difficulties for her including severe learning disabilities, low muscle tone and the growing potential for seizures as she matures. She also has dyspraxia, a lifelong neurological condition which imparts her executive functioning, coordination, balance, and abilities to read, write and count, among many other things. Lastly, she has moderate autism. As she has grown into her preteens, life is changing to us as we accommodate her in different and more challenging ways.”

Her husband, Chief Warrant Officer Todd Slaughter, has been deployed to the Special Operations Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve in Kuwait since January 2018. “His absence at home has made raising Sophia very challenging. She cannot ever be left alone and does not engage in typical activities such as sleepovers, childcare, etc. Our days are always spent together.”

Recently, Jennifer and Todd decided to take Sophia out of public school. Though she was given a vast amount of accommodations, the system was still unable to provide a curriculum for her that worked and that she could access. Sophia even had a one-to-one aid throughout her school day, but it was not enough. This past year, in fourth grade, her abilities regressed back to that of a first-grader. It broke their hearts to see her falling so far behind her peers. She became of the age where social interaction was challenging. She was bullied and called stupid and weird. In her last meeting with her school teachers, she was met with frustration on their side as they felt she was in the wrong place with the wrong children. Sitting across the table from them, she felt helpless.

District Army of Hope Chairman, Spike Jones, referred Jennifer to PDD Jim Lamb who interviewed her. He shared her story with Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services therapist Margo Baker to see if she could help. In a week, Sophia was approved and is now receiving therapy from Baker. At the same time, requested financial assistance from the Army of Hope to help them get caught up on some bills. The Army of Hope wrote a check for $1,500. Lamb received a phone call from Todd in Kuwait thanking him and all Elks for their help.