Central District

Details

Written by Susan Slater

Hits: 119

On Dec. 11, Dottie Sollomon hosted her yearly Special Citizens Christmas party at Zephyrhills Lodge. Citizens from the community and nonprofit facilities attended the party with hamburgers, drinks, homemade cookies and ice cream, while member and country singer, Barry Oliver, sang Christmas carols. Member Steve Ipson played Santa Claus while the guests asked for gifts and received a stocking with stuffers and stuffed animals, donated by Ken Fabiani, PER, Veterans Chair. The Arc Nature Coast is a nonprofit organization offering services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Other citizens attended via invitations from volunteers throughout the community during events. The lodge donated $300 as well.

Pictured are staff members and residents of The Arc Nature Coast with Santa (Steve Ipson).

Details

Written by Brian Estus, PDD

Hits: 270

On Dec. 9, West Citrus Elks Lodge #2693 donated $5,000 to the Citrus Food Bank.

Pictured are Mike Floch, Leading Knight; Rick Jeroski, board chair; Barbara Sprague, Citrus Food Bank director; and Kris Estus, PER, Treasurer.

Details

Written by Susan Slater

Hits: 272

On Dec. 5, Zephyrhills Elks Lodge #2731 donated $1,000 from its bingo account to Solo Moms Recovery and Healing. Solo moms are recovering from deep-rooted traumatic events, such as drug recovery, domestic violence and human trafficking. A matching donation of $1,000 will also be donated to Solo Moms by another donor, so Solo Moms can finally buy their Healing Hub building outright and own it.

Pictured are Kathy Honkala, bingo chair; Stacy Hester, Solo Moms founder; Ayden Hester; Karl Finnemore, Exalted Ruler; and Barbara Conklin, Leading Knight.

Details

Written by Sherry Mackeil

Hits: 442

On Aug. 7, Brooksville Elks Lodge #2582 donated its $4,000 Elks National Founcation Beacon Grant to People Helping People of Hernando County for their Weekend Blessings program, which provides essential weekend meal bags for K-8 students who are food-insecure. Lodge members help to pack and deliver the food to schools each week throughout school year. The organization also does a Senior Blessings program, which feeds senior citizens needing supplemental food resources.

Details

Written by Kissimmee Elks

Hits: 474

On Sept. 21, Kissimmee Elks Lodge #1873 held its 16th Public Safety Night to honor local first responder departments.

Pictured are Joseph Santos, Kissimmee Police Officer of the Year; Anthony Shaffer, Saint Cloud Officer of the Year; Stephen Borrows, Kissimmee Fire Department Chief; Chief James Walls, who received the awards for Michael Kane, Kissimmee Fire Department Engineer of the Year, and Jaycius Golding, Saint Cloud Fire Department Paramedic Firefighter of the Year; Rafael Candelrio, Osceola  County Corrections Officer of the Year; and Desha Hernandez, Osceola County Sheriff Detective of the Year. Not pictured is Donald Chapman, Florida Highway Patrol Trooper of the Year.