Viera Elks Lodge #2817 sponsored its annual senior angel tree. This year, the lodge partnered with One Senior Place and Seniors Helping Seniors, two local senior-focused organizations, to identify seniors in need who do not have family near to provide gifts during the holidays. Lodge members donated 56 gifts based on the requests of each senior.
During the week of Oct 14, Vero Beach Elks delivered a total of 980 dictionaries to third grade students and teachers at Beachland Elementary, Citrus Elementary, Dodgertown Elementary, Glendale Elementary, Imagine Schools at South Vero, Indian River Academy, North County Charter School, Osceola Magnet, Rosewood Magnet, Vero Beach Elementary and St. Helen's Catholic School. This was the eighth year providing dictionaries to local schools. The dictionaries are well received by the teachers and students and are used daily in the classrooms. PDD Paul Diaz chaired this project and volunteers labeled and delivered the dictionaries.
Pictured with third grade students at St. Helen’s Catholic School are Joseph Palowich, PER; Carol Palowich, Public Relations Chair; Jordyn Hughes, teacher’s assistant; and Christie Colwell, third grade teacher.
On Halloween, members of Sebastian Lodge hosted Trunk or Treat at Fellsmere Elementary, with 21 stations. The volunteers handed out more than $900 in treats (candy and novelty items, including Drug Awareness supplies). They also distributed Drug Awareness coloring books and Red Ribbons, and students used Drug Awareness bags to collect their treats. There were 566 students participating in the event.
Pictured are all the volunteers as well as the school principal, vice principal and guidance counselor.
On Oct. 17, Sebastian Elks Lodge #2714 participated in the National Night Out at Riverview Park, hosted by the Sebastian Police Department COPE Unit. The lodge shared information about the Drug Awareness essay and poster contest and distributed red ribbons and coloring books to approximately 40 children. They provided Americanism essay contest information to approximately 50 children. They also distributed information about Elks National Foundation Scholarships and the HOPE Scholarship to more than 75 families of high school seniors. In addition, they gave out six membership applications.
Pictured are Louie Reyes, Loyal Knight; Mary Ducharme, Ladies President; Mike Sadler, Lecturing Knight; Jennifer Sadler; and Tony Vitale.
Beginning July 21, Cocoa Beach Elks Lodge #2387 held a back-to-school drive for Roosevelt Elementary in Cocoa Beach after Susan Dilworth-Jones, Lodge Secretary, reached out to the principal and asked what they needed most to start the school year. She replied that her greatest need was basic school supplies and additional funds for the Angel Fund, a backup fund for students who don’t have money in their lunch accounts. Dilworth-Jones created a flyer describing the need and goal and distributed the information to the members. They donated numerous supplies, and the lodge donated $200 to the Angel fund.