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Florida Elks News Editor:
Rachael King
Entire contents copyright 2020 by the
Florida State Elks Association Inc.
P.O. Box 49
Umatilla, FL 32784-0049
P.O. Box 49
Umatilla, FL 32784-0049
352-669-9443
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Central District
Zephyrhills Lodge Hosts Local Hoop Shoot
- Details
- Written by Diane Ellison
Zephyrhills Elks Lodge #2731 held the local Hoop Shoot competition Dec. 15 at the local YMCA. Winners from Zephyrhills Lodge are Jazmine May (girls 12-13), Malachi May (8-9 boys), Clayton Rogers (10-11 boys) and Eeori Pope (12-13 boys).
Zephyrhills Lodge Presents Gift Cards for Holiday Meals to Homeless Teens
- Details
- Written by Diane Ellison
Through donations, 50/50 drawings and many generous individuals, Zephyrhills Lodge presented $6,200-worth of gift cards for holiday meals to teen students of Zephyrhills High School who are homeless. Attending the presentation were principal, Angie Shone; registrar, Diane Vaughn; Exalted Ruler, Ken Fabiani; and Past Exalted Rulers Dave Moyer, Alice Perry, Bill Knapp, Shirley Crawford and Elsie McFarland.
West Citrus Lodge Supports Community During Holidays
- Details
- Written by West Citrus Elks
West Citrus Elks Lodge #2693 raised enough money from member donations to contribute more than 100 turkeys to the WE Care Food Pantry for Thanksgiving. Lodge and ladies members also raised nearly $3,000 for children of Homosassa who are less fortunate than themselves.
Lodge members contributed over $1,200 to the veterans committee to purchase Christmas gifts for veterans who are confined to nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.
Kissimmee Elks and Community Hold Children's Christmas Carnival
- Details
- Written by Bob Barry
Kissimmee Elks Lodge #1873 hosted over 300 children who are in foster care along with their families at the Christmas carnival Dec. 8. This was the third year for the event which was made possible from Elks National Foundation grants. Organizing the event was Community Based Care and their agencies. This was a community affair with volunteers from various agencies including 50 Elks.
Activities included pictures with Mr. & Mrs. Claus (Charles and Lorraine Barker), ornament-making, a hula hoop contest, family photos, packaging s’mores and a bounce house. The sheriff brought a police canine and the fire department had a truck on display. Music was provided all day and hot dogs, hamburgers, and sides were available.
As the families entered the lodge, the children were directed to activities while parents had choices of age-appropriate gifts for the children. Personal shoppers were available to find the perfect gifts and Santa’s helpers were available to wrap and keep the presents a surprise.
Zephyrhills Elks Hold Fundraiser for Fire Rescue
- Details
- Written by Diane Ellison
To celebrate Fire Prevention Week, Zephyrhills Lodge held a fundraiser Oct. 18 for Zephyrhills Fire Rescue. Nearly half the department is made up of volunteer members. The department works three 48-hour shifts and could not function without their volunteers. Susan Slater, lodge events planning chairman, coordinated the event which included 50/50 raffles, food sales and children’s games with toy prizes for the winners. The Florida Antique Bucket Brigade (FABB) was there including Mike Morris, who attended his rookie training for Tampa Fire Department in 1952 on the 1925 Seagrave pumper which he displayed proudly. He now owns the pumper and restored it to its original condition. PER David Moyer presented Morris with a certificate honoring him as the first president of the FABB in 1977. Also on display were the 1914 American LaFrance and the 1934 Ahrens Fox pumper along with others from the 1950s; all now belong to other FABB members. In attendance were the Zephyrhills and the Pasco County fire rescues. The event raised $450 which was presented to lodge member Blake Donaldson of Zephyrhills Fire Rescue Nov. 5 at a lodge meeting.
Zephyrhills Elks use Anniversary Grant to Provide Children's Jackets
- Details
- Written by Diane Ellison
Using an Anniversary Grant, Zephyrhills Elks Lodge #2731 presented zip fleece hooded jackets for children to four elementary schools in East Pasco County Oct. 31: Centennial, Woodland, West Zephyrhills and Chester Taylor.
Pictured at Centennial are Katrina Keys, Parent Involvement Coordinator; Jill Sovobado, Assistant Principal; Gretchen Rudolph-Fladd, Principal; Ken Fabiani, Exalted Ruler; Alice Tolson, retired teacher; and Judy Osgood, ENF Chairman.
Kissimmee Elks Hold Public Safety Night
- Details
- Written by Kissimmee Elks
On Sept. 15, Kissimmee Lodge hosted a public safety night to honor first responders of the year from Kissimmee PD, Kissimmee Fire, Kissimmee Fire & Rescue, St. Cloud PD, St. Cloud Fire, St. Cloud Fire & Rescue, Corrections, and state police.
Zephyrhills Elks Use Gratitude Grant to Help Meals on Wheels
- Details
- Written by Diane Ellison
Zephyrhills Elks Lodge’s Gratitude Grant was presented to East Pasco Meals on Wheels which delivers meals to homebound veterans and the elderly. With this donation, they purchased a meat slicer and a seven-cup food processor. The lodge also gave them a check for $635 to purchase food and supplies.
Pictured are Judy Osgood, ENF Chairman; Tracy Stock; Ken Fabiani, Exalted Ruler; Lee Anne Starcher; Michelle McKay; and Beth Aker, Executive Director of East Pasco Meals on Wheels.
Kissimmee Lodge Sponsors Scout Camping Week
- Details
- Written by Kissimmee Elks
Kissimmee Elks Lodge #1873 sponsored the annual scout camping week. They opened the lodge grounds to 80 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. Each day the scouts met for outdoor fun including a bounce house, target shooting, archery and various craft projects. The lodge sponsors this event as a continuing effort to be involved in the community.
Kissimmee Elks Award Scholarships
- Details
- Written by Kissimmee Elks
Kissimmee Elks Lodge #1873 held its annual student awards night May 19. Two winners of the Most Valuable Student scholarship winners were Elliot Bodre and Mackenzie Buckholz. These two young people have known each other since elementary school and have developed a strong friendship which is about to be strained because Mackenzie will become a Gator and Elliot will become a Seminole! The lodge also honored their Hoop Shoot finalists, two of whom went on to the national finals in Chicago, Madison Vazquez and Malayna Stevenson.
West Citrus Lodge Holds Scholarship Dinner
- Details
- Written by West Citrus Elks
On Sunday, May 6, 40 seniors from Crystal River and Lecanto high schools and about 150 family members gathered at West Citrus Elks Lodge #2693 for the annual Elks scholarship dinner. The students and their families were treated to dinner followed by an awards presentation. Each was chosen by their respective school as a male or female student of the month throughout the school year. The students were individually introduced with a synopsis of their accomplishments including grades, volunteering and extracurricular activities and were awarded a plaque. After all were introduced, the top two male and female students from each school were presented with a $1,000 scholarship from West Citrus Lodge. Pictured are Vu Pham, Krystina DeSomma, Alexis Duncun and Colton Gonsisko.
Zephyrhills Lodge Runs Feed the Kids Program
- Details
- Written by Zephyrhills Elks
Zephyrhills Elks Lodge #2731 conducted their kickoff meeting for the Feed the Kids program. Many families do not have the resources to provide healthy meals during the summer months when school is not in session, so the Elks welcome them at the lodge. There the Elks read to the children and help them find books to borrow for the week. The lodge is in dire need of new or mildly used books for the children to read and take home. They can always use volunteers to assist with the children and the program in general. They partner with other fabulous organizations including Thomas Promise and East Pasco Meals on Wheels for their food for the children, and the Zephyrhills police and fire departments and the Pasco County Sheriff.