On Jan. 10, Green Cove Springs Lodge donated $1,000 from the Past Exalted Rulers charity bingo fund to Seamark Ranch, a working farm in Green Cove Springs that provides schooling and counseling in a family home setting to children in the foster care system or in crisis situations. The ranch has provided support to more than 100 children since opening its doors to children in need.
Pictured at the check presentation are Ed Weston, PER chair; Paul Orvosh, PDD, Lodge Treasurer; Brittany McGraw, Seamark Ranch events manager; and Al Williams, Exalted Ruler.
On Jan. 6, Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge #1892 donated $1,783 of its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to the Food Pantry of Green Cove Springs, which has been providing support to the community for more than 30 years.
Pictured at the check presentation are Tracy Carroll, PER, lodge grants coordinator; Theresa and Ken Heselschwerdt, food pantry volunteers; and Al Williams, Exalted Ruler.
Green Cove Springs Lodge members and volunteers delivered more than 450 gift bags Dec. 16 to the faculty and staff members at several local schools and the local library. The bags contained donated facial products that were donated to Florida Elks Charities.
Pictured at W.E. Cherry Elementary School are Joshua Hogmire, assistant principal; Ed Weston, PER; Joy Elrod, Lecturing Knight; Michelle Solomon, school secretary; Michelle Mister, teacher; Shannon Scott, school staff member; Al Williams, Exalted Ruler; and Lester Booker, school resource officer.
On Dec. 3, members and volunteers from Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge #1892 partnered with the city of Green Cove Springs for the annual Christmas on Walnut Street festival. Lodge members greeted families and provided gift bags, which included books, toys and candy canes, for 350 children. Lodge volunteers helped organize and pack the items Nov. 19; they were purchased by the lodge with matching grant funds from the Florida State Elks Association. The lodge also distributed more than 400 gift bags containing facial products, obtained by Florida Elks Charities, to the parents and grandparents attending the event with their children.
Pictured are lodge volunteers awaiting the arrival of Santa and the children.
On Nov. 16, Gainesville Elks Lodge #990 used its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to donate turkeys and gift cards to One More Child for Thanksgiving dinners for 33 families with foster children. One More Child is a nonprofit organization that assists children and families in need with programs for foster care, anti-trafficking, child hunger, single mothers and family support. Pictured are Louis Mallory, Exalted Ruler; Dina Atalig, lodge Beacon Grant administrator; Glen Gardner, PDD, lodge grants coordinator; and Demetri Semper and Lois Lembke from One More Child.