On June 20, DeLand Lodge made a $450 donation to New Horizons Dog Training, based in Volusia County, Florida, which trains and provides service dogs to those who need them. The lodge also provided the use of their lodge to use as a sort of classroom to introduce the dogs to their new owners. At graduation, they take the dogs and their new owners to Volusia Mall to mingle in a crowded real-world environment to make sure folks can handle their new dogs in a crowded place.
Pictured is the most recent graduating class of dogs and recipients and staff from New Horizons.
On May 7, Nick Skibba, PER of Merritt Island Lodge organized a kids’ fun day. There were 103 kids and 30 Elks in attendance. The event included bounce houses, face painting and rock painting. Sheriff Ivey was there and an Army truck was giving free rides. The day also included music, hot dogs and hamburgers.
Merritt Island Elks Lodge #2650 held one of two annual first responder PER dinners April 29. The dinners allow the members to meet the first responders of Brevard County. The lodge paid for dinner.
Attendees pictured outside the lodge are Deputy Martinez, Deputy Brown, Firefighter Ibaney, Firefighter Uzel, Lt. Stephenson, Deputy Crawford and Corporal Jenning.
The DeLand Elks Lodge Past Exalted Rulers (PER) Association awarded $5,000 in scholarships to local graduates. Funds were raised from the lodge's annual PER golf tournament. Scholarships were presented to the graduates at the lodge's annual barbecue for veterans and first responders June 4.
Pictured are Tom Hopp, PER and Dean Yeager, PER with Joan Fannin and Joshua Brannon for $2,500 each to further their education at Daytona State College.
Also on March 26, Titusville Lodge presented checks to two deserving groups using funds from the lodge’s Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant. Liberty Lodge Ministries, a program in Titusville, Florida, for men with alcohol and drug addiction, received $2,000. The Women's Center in Titusville, Florida, which addresses the needs of women, men and children who faced trauma related to domestic violence and sexual assault, was given $1,500.
Catherine Simkins, Exalted Ruler, is pictured with Lance Lance Milam and Damian Josephson from Liberty Lodge and Ashley Wong from the Women's Center.