East Central District

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Written by Cristin Rumler

On Sept. 7, Ormond Beach Elks Lodge #2193 hosted its second annual Duck Drop. The lodge invited community members to participate in its Labor Day weekend festivities, including food, music, dunk tank, games, raffles, auction, cake walk, cornhole and more. The Elks Drug Awareness trailer was used and Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services therapists Althea Montgomery, OTR/L and Beth Thiers, OTR/L attended. The main event was the dropping of 1,500 rubber ducks onto the lodge parking lot from a helicopter supplied by Tomlinson Aviation and member Neal Tomlinson. The ducks were dropped by member Joe Horton. Prizes were awarded to those whose ducks landed closest to the target. The event raised $9,951 for lodge and Elks charitable programs, including the Harry-Anna Trust Fund, Elks National Foundation, lodge scholarships, Drug Awareness program, holiday gift and food baskets, and the Elks National Veterans Service Commission.

Pictured are the rubber ducks being dropped from the helicopter. Photo credit/Michele Meyers, Observer

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Written by Cristin Rumler

Sanford Elks Lodge members attended the Sanford Police Blue & You barbecue July 26, which supports local families as they prepare for the upcoming school year. Members assisted Community Relations Unit officers and provided each child with a backpack full of school supplies. The department had collected supplies at their Sanford Police CRAM the CRUISER event and had received various donations.

Pictured are members Victoria Huggins and Libby Jett with Officer Toni Torres.

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Written by Linda Trawle

Tammy Reynolds and Linda Trawle, members of Titusville Elks Lodge #2113, held a fundraiser for Hummingbird Pantry, a nonprofit organization and the largest food bank in Florida, which assists more than 5,000 Brevard County residents every two weeks. The lodge pledged $2,500.00 to get the fundraiser started. Reynolds and Trawle went out to the community and solicited food donations to put on a spaghetti dinner, held March 9. They served 189 dinners and held auctions, a 50/50 and raffles. On April 7, the lodge presented $7,000 to Gina Stanford, Hummingbird founder, and all the pantry volunteers.

Pictured are Titusville Elks with Hummingbird Pantry staff and volunteers.

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Written by Marti Miller

On Feb. 21, Edgewater-New Smyrna Beach Elks Lodge #1557 donated $8,500 to their main charity, Gifts of Love Food Bank, which came from their Elks National Foundation Gratitude/Beacon and Spotlight grants. The lodge provides them with a separate building and allows them to operate on their property.

Pictured are Marti Miller, Exalted Ruler, and Sammi Hartwell, Gifts of Love director.

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Written by Linda Trawle

Using its Harry-Anna Trust Fund matching grant, Titusville Lodge donated $2,000 Jan. 22 to Life Point Ministries, which provides clothing, food, showers, hygiene items, cold-night shelters and holiday meals to those who are homeless. Every Thursday, they provide hot showers and hot meals. The ministry is entirely supported by community donations.

Pictured are Wayne Becraft, PER, Lodge Secretary; Royce “Scooter” Morrison, pastor; and Pete DeMonte, Exalted Ruler.