Southeast Central District

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Written by Vero Beach Elks

Vero Beach Elks Lodge #1774 was recognized by the Indian River County School District at their annual Community Bright Spot Awards Dec. 7 for being an outstanding community partner of the school district in maximizing the full potential of all students. The lodge utilizes the funds from its Elks National Foundation Impact Grant to fund a school store where students purchase goods with digital coins they receive for good behavior, finishing assignments on time and respecting their teachers.

Pictured are lodge members Lorraine Cappelin, Linda Colontrelle, Don Guidry, Karen Guidry, Gail Boatwright, and Deb Stuller and Lyndsey Matheny, principal of Vero Beach Elementary School.

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Written by Vero Beach Elks

Vero Beach Elks Lodge #1774 held its 35th annual Toys for Tots dinner Dec. 10. Toys have been collected every year for 35 years, and lodge members have donated more than 350 bicycles and helmets of all sizes over the years. Various children’s toys are also collected.

Pictured are Rich Miller, PER; Victor Diaz, retired Marine; Paul Diaz, District Deputy; and Joe Palowich, Exalted Ruler.

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Written by Pauline Talbott

On Oct. 22, Sebastian Lodge held its annual golf tournament with lunch at the lodge afterward. A record-breaking total of more than $18,000 was raised to support the various charities supported by the lodge. The lodge also received several applications for membership as a result of the golf tournament.

Pictured with the sponsor banner are Bennie Colson, tournament chair, right, and his wife, Susan. Also pictured are the many chance raffle donations that were donated.

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Written by Pauline Talbott

On Oct. 15, Sebastian Elks Lodge #2714 was a sponsor of the Sebastian Police Department COPE Unit’s second annual golf tournament, with a $1,200 donation. In addition, several lodge members participated as registered golfers and provided two volunteers from the lodge and Ladies auxiliary to assist with ticket sales for mulligans and raffles. The mission of the COPE Unit is to create partnerships between the community and the Sebastian Police Department, to develop and employ proactive crime prevention strategies, and to promote the department’s resources to the community. The unit hosts events throughout the city where members meet with citizens, distribute crime prevention materials and build relationships to create a lasting environment of cooperation between the police and the citizens. The EL-DOEs, which is the lodge’s Ladies auxiliary, also launched sales of a lottery board raffle, with all proceeds going to the Sebastian Police Department’s Shop-with-a-Cop program. 

Pictured are Pauline Talbott, Lodge Drug Awareness Education Chair and EL-DOEs co-director, and Mary Ducharme, EL-DOEs Treasurer, along with some raffle items.

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Written by Jerry Harrington, PER

At Southeast Central District Vice President Jerry Harrington’s Oct. 15 visitation to Port St. Lucie Elks Lodge #2658, a bucket-drop for donations to the Elks Disaster Relief Fund was conducted. A total of $5,000 was collected and mailed to the Florida State Elks Association office to be added to the fund to assist victims of Hurricane Ian.