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Written by Green Cove Springs Elks

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Throughout November, members and guests of Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge #1892 donated items selected from a lodge angel tree. Thanks to the coordinating efforts of House Committee secretary, Barbara Thompson, and Elk volunteer Sally Thorsen, more than 500 items were presented Dec. 12 to Mike Howle, community relations coordinator for Quigley House, a local women's crisis center and shelter.

Pictured are Mike Howle, Barbara Thompson and Sally Thorsen.

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Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER

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On Dec. 6, the Northwest District held its annual district Hoop Shoot at the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast in Fort Walton Beach. The first place contestants will advance and participate in the regionals.

Pictured are Tammy Eddins, Lecturing Knight, Pensacola Beach Lodge; Tom McLaughlin, PER, Esquire, Fort Walton Lodge; Marcia WrightReynolds, Exalted Ruler, Fort Walton Lodge; Michael “Taz” WrightReynolds, PER, trustee and Hoop Shoot District Chair, Fort Walton; Matt Alt, member and athletic director at Gulf Breeze High School; and Marcus Broadnax, director of Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. Contestants pictured in the front are Janayr Ohmit, runner-up boys 10-11; Joey Clanton, first place boys 10-11; Toby Yelton, first place boys 12-13; Griffin Lynch, runner-up boys 12-13; and Poppy Ohmit, first place girls 8-9.

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Written by Carmen Rivera

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Orlando Elks Lodge #1079 held its annual Drug Awareness poster contest, continuing its commitment to educating youth about making healthy, drug-free choices through creativity and thoughtful expression. This year’s contest included students from Waterford Elementary School and Mills Creek Elementary School. Waterford Elementary, under the leadership of Principal Daniel Arbelaez-Willis, hosted its award ceremony Dec. 16 and Mills Creek Elementary, led by Principal Seth Daub, held its award ceremony Dec. 18. These were to recognize the students’ outstanding work.

The student posters reflected a powerful understanding of the long-term consequences of drug use, especially impressive given the participants’ young ages, ranging from 8 to 11 years old.

First-place winner, Celestia A. Lee, a fourth grade student from Waterford Elementary, created a striking image depicting a man who had fallen into drug use and found himself in a grave, symbolizing that it was too late to undo the damage. Above him, she illustrated what he dreamed his life could have been — a peaceful tropical vacation — representing the life lost to addiction. Her artwork conveyed how easily people can fall into drugs and how quickly poor choices can spiral out of control, wasting opportunities and dreams.

Second place winner, Angela Gonzalez, a fifth grade student from Mills Creek Elementary, shared that her poster was inspired by someone she knows who made poor choices in life. Her message focused on the importance of making the right decisions early and choosing a healthier, happier path instead. Her artwork encouraged peers to pause, think and select a future rooted in positive choices.

Third place winner, Xesus A. Lee, a third grade student from Waterford Elementary and Celestia’s younger brother, offered another thoughtful perspective. When asked about the character in his artwork, Xesus explained that although the figure appeared to be smiling, “he is really a bad man under the sticker.” When the image was revealed, the smiling figure transformed into a skeleton attempting to give drugs away, symbolizing deception and the hidden dangers behind addiction.

The Drug Awareness poster contest continues to be one of the lodge’s most meaningful youth programs, allowing students to express complex ideas through art while reinforcing prevention and education at an early age. The lodge extends sincere appreciation to the principals, teachers, families and students who participated and congratulates this year’s winners for their honesty, creativity and powerful messages. Through programs like this, the lodge remains committed to guiding young people toward safe, informed and drug-free lives.

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Written by Deborah Reedy, PER

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Throughout November and part of December, members of Jacksonville and Orange Park Elks lodges held toy drives for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots. Three boxes of toys were collected as well as several bicycles.

Pictured is Brent Reedy, Jacksonville Lodge Exalted Ruler, dropping off toys.

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Written by Florida Keys Elks

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On Dec. 6, Florida Keys Elks Lodge hosted its annual children's holiday party at the lodge using funds from the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant. The party hosted 150 local children, and each child received a gift from Santa. The party included lunch and a magic show by a professional magician.

Pictured are members Kayla Devroedt, Drema Rimmel, John Rimmel and Sheryl Spear.

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Written by Palmetto Elks

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On Nov. 8, Palmetto Elks Lodge #2449 donated $10,000 to the Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization, whose motto is “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in our Town.” They build and provide beds for children throughout the nation. Children receive a bed frame, mattress, sheets, comforters and pillows. In addition, 60 lodge members from Palmetto Lodge and other Southwest District lodges helped build 20 beds.

Pictured are Cheryl Kross from SIHP; Curt Mahoney, Palmetto Lodge Exalted Ruler; Dan West, Palmetto mayor; and Rod Roderman, Bradenton Lodge member. 

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Written by Mary Lou Scribner, PER

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Brandon Elks Lodge helped make the holidays merry for local children and families. Members adopted 33 children from 13 families for Christmas and provided presents for the children. Individual members chose a child to adopt and used the provided wish lists to shop for them. Members purchased the gifts and on Dec. 10, they gathered at the lodge to wrap the toys and clothes together. Each family also received a Christmas dinner, funded by the lodge. In addition, on Dec. 12, the lodge donated $1,000 each to Lopez Exceptional School and Limona Elementary School so that they could help some of the students’ families with Christmas.

Pictured are members at the lodge wrapping gifts and dinner baskets. Pictured at Lopez Exceptional School are Hiddie Meyer, PER Marionette Garvey, Principal Sarawanzi and Tammy Alleyn. Pictured at Limona Elementary School are PER Marionette Garvey, and Christopher Fisher, social worker.

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Written by Telly Sands

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On Nov. 19, Hollywood West Elks Lodge #2365 held its Hoop Shoot at the Marti Huizenga Boys and Girls Club of Broward County. The competitors, pictured with several lodge members, received trophies or ribbons for first place through fifth place in their respective age groups.