On Jan. 8, Oakland Park Elks Lodge #2407 donated 30 boxes filled with nonperishable food items and Publix gift cards to Father Bob, who runs All Saints Soup Kitchen, supports parolees and runs services for those who are less fortunate. The church is located just around the corner from the lodge. Funds from the Elks National Foundation Focus Grant were used to purchase these items.
On Dec. 22, using a portion of the Elks National Foundation Focus Grant, six members from Oakland Park Elks Lodge #2407 purchased, packed and delivered 25 boxes filled with nonperishable food items and Publix gift cards to Children's Village in Wilton Manors, Florida. These children come from lower-income homes.
Pictured are member Doug Smith; staff members Melissa Edwards and Glender Jennings; and Doug Satran, PER.
On Dec. 22, using a portion of the Elks National Foundation Focus Grant, six members from Oakland Park Elks Lodge #2407 purchased, packed and delivered 25 boxes filled with nonperishable food items and Publix gift cards to Children's Village in Wilton Manors, Florida. These children come from lower-income homes.
Pictured are Doug Smith and Doug Satran, PER, with two staff members from Children’s Village.
On Dec. 13, members of Pompano Beach Elks Lodge #1898 assembled 45 boxes of food to be distributed at a drive-thru at the lodge. On Dec. 16, the drive-thru was held for families in need at neighboring schools. This event was funded with $2,660 from the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant and member donations.
Pictured assembling boxes is Frank Sellers, PDD.
On Nov. 12, Hollywood West Lodge donated 80 $25 gift cards from Publix to the Community Church of Davie for distribution to families in need. The lodge purchased these gift cards with finds from the Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant.
Pictured are members Shelly Sarros; Grace Grella; Jim Blanchard, PDD; Katie Vincent; Barbara Blanchard; Mike Maiocco; Eddie Scanlon, PER, Exalted Ruler; Marjorie Broda; Paul Houser, PER; Judy Vincent; Donna Ulrich; and Larry Ulrich.
Members and friends of Boca Raton Lodge #2166 once again donated funds to purchase bicycles for local youths in need. Thirty bicycles as well as 63 gift cards worth $1,575 were delivered to the American Association of Caregiving Youth, an association dedicated to helping youth who are caring for ill and/or terminally ill parents. This is the second year that members have donated to them. The bicycles were delivered Dec. 15.
Pictured with the bicycles are lodge members John Van Sant; Tito Young, PER; Vinny Como, PSP; Brian Williamson; and Vic Weliky.
Members of Pompano Beach Elks Lodge #1898 restored a butterfly garden at Cresthaven Elementary School, spreading more than 85 bags of mulch at the school. They also repainted all the benches, tables and chairs at Norcrest Elementary School to support students with special needs. Funding for these projects came from the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant and the Florida State Elks Association matching grant.
Pictured July 15 at the butterfly garden are members Geneva Kayko and Beverly Keating (in the back) and Frank Sellers, PDD and Charlotte Burrie, PDD (in the front). At the forefront is member Dave Enrow. A painted picnic table from Sept. 10 is also shown.
Oakland Park Elks Lodge #2407 hosted its third annual fundraiser for Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services Sept. 19. The Drag it Out Again event included dinner and a show featuring performers from Lips and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Doug Satran, PER, Esteemed Leading Knight, and Arnie Cuarenta, Lodge Esquire and Activities Committee Chair, performed a song as well. The event was hosted by Velvet Lenore, the current Miss Florida Female Impersonator, with music provided by DJ Aulden Brown. This year’s event hosted more than 80 Elks and guests, an increase of about 30% from last year. The performers donated their time to this popular event and raised over $600 in tips, which will go directly to Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services.
Pictured with DJ Aulden Brown in the middle are the ladies of Lips — Velvet Lenore, Rianna Petrone, Paris Lenore and Nicole T. Philips.
Pompano Beach Lodge members again hosted their Teachers’ Closet program. School supplies were purchased for Cresthaven and Norcrest Elementary schools using funds from the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant. Thirty teachers and two school administrators came to the lodge to collect supplies for their classrooms. The Pompano Beach mayor and city commissioner attended in support of the lodge’s project.
Pictured Aug. 20 are the supplies.
On March 9, Hollywood West Elks Lodge #2365 presented donation checks to charitable community organizations using its Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant, totaling $3,000. The following organizations were the appreciative recipients: Hollywood Police Athletic League ($500), Hope Outreach Center of Davie ($500), Davie Police Athletic League ($500), Broward Children's Center ($250), Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood ($250), South Florida Boy Scouts of America ($500) and the LCpl Janos V Lutz Live To Tell Foundation ($500).
Pictured are Jim Blanchard, DDGER; Ed Scanlon, Exalted Ruler; Edith Moore, Broward Children’s Center Preschool Director; and Barbara Blanchard, lodge trustee.
Delray Beach Elks Lodge #1770 held its local Hoop Shoot for local children Nov. 13 at Trinity Lutheran Church gymnasium, and the winners advanced to the district contest Dec. 4. Pictured with participants and parents are members Karl Aterman; John Jaspert; Les Nelson; Ian Patterson; Mike Sinneck, District Vice President; a father; Roger Cope, Exalted Ruler; and Billy La Fever, who is also a teacher.
On Aug. 21, Pompano Beach Elks Lodge #1898 opened its new lodge doors to the teachers of Cresthaven Elementary School. This is the third year the lodge has provided needed supplies for the new school year. The lodge purchased the supplies using its $3,500 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant. The school’s principal and assistant principal were present with teachers to pick up their supplies. The Drug Awareness Education trailer was onsite for information distribution, and Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services occupational therapist Lynanne Koenig was there to provide information about the therapy program.