North Central District

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Written by Inverness Elks

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For the ninth consecutive year, Inverness Lodge held its Backpacks for Success program for local students. The program supplies backpacks loaded with grade-specific school supplies to the children supported by the Citrus County Foster Parent Association and 20 to area schools through their guidance departments. The lodge used its $2,500 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to purchase the backpacks and supplies, and more than 300 hours of labor were provided by lodge members and helpers. In total, 170 backpacks were delivered to the Citrus County foster families and 20 schools in Citrus County and Dunnellon in time for the start of the new school year Aug. 10. Inverness Elks believe that a community that supports its children raises citizens who grow up to support their community. Pictured are Frank Baranco; Richard Grosnick, PER; Dick Bass; Judy Horton; Craig Ingram; Carol Ingram; Sally Torres and Ed Torres.

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Written by Inverness Elks

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On Aug. 9, the Inverness Elks Lodge bingo committee donated $1,000 to Citrus County Abuse Shelter Association (CASA). CASA representative Sunshine Arnold spoke to the bingo players, explaining in detail all the aspects of the shelter and how much of a difference these funds will make in the lives of those already impacted with struggles. Pictured are John Colasanti, Jim Bell, Sally Torres, Rick Mechley, CASA’s Sunshine Arnold, Nancy O’Malley, Lana Almeida, Tim Hughes and Jack Trafalski.

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Written by Richard Bardsley, PDD

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The Winter Park Lodge Flag Day observance was held June 13 with the Naval ROTC officers from Lake Howell High School. Booster Club parents Katie and Dan Coleman and seven officers supported the lodge’s ritual. Pianist, Tom Horrobin, is a teacher at the school and provided the assembly with music for the ritual. There was a gathering afterward with members of the ROTC team and lodge officers and members. The high school has long had a reciprocal relationship with the Elks.

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Written by Dick Bardsley, PDD

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To raise funds for the Elks National Foundation and the Harry-Anna Trust Fund, Winter Park Lodge’s Ron Goluba, PER and Sue Jovi created a raffle and asked members and guests to donate Elk memorabilia or to buy chances. The raffle included lodge pins, a gavel, cuff links, ties and antlers as well as historic Elks items such as a Jim Beam commemorative flask, an “OLD ELK” bottle and gold foil-wrapped Elk droppings. Pictured at the April 23 drawing are winners Rick Wirth, PER and his wife, Sandra. The fundraiser totaled $1,200 for the charities.

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Written by Suzanne Cunningham

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The Anna Miller Circle of Eustis Elks Lodge #1578 has resumed packing welcome kits for The Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties. Six Anna Miller volunteers and one Elk volunteer met April 4 to pack 100 adult and 50 children's welcome kits. The Haven is a shelter for women who have been abused as well as for their children. It is also a shelter for teens and survivors of rape. The kits contain soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, moisturizer and deodorant. The children's kits also contain a small toy and hand sanitizer. A welcome kit is given to each woman and child when they arrive at The Haven safe house. Eighty full-size toiletries were donated as well. The packing also contained 12 birthday kits which include a cake mix, frosting and candles to be used by mothers to bake a cake for their child who has a birthday while at the shelter. The day’s donations totaled $1,800.

Pictured are volunteers Chris Getchell, president; Vicki Mercandente, co-chair of The Haven Project; Marc Cunningham, lodge member; Mary Ann Cerney; Judith Polson; and Judi McCarroll. Taking the picture is Suzanne Cunningham, co-chair of The Haven Project.