South Southeast District

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Written by Carol Eaton

Delray Beach Elks Lodge #1770 supported the City of Delray’s Delray Reads Day, hosted virtually Oct. 29. Pictured is lodge member and teacher Leslie Schneider reading “Evelyn Del Ray is Moving Away” to her students at Plumosa Elementary in Delray, Florida.

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Written by Boca Raton Elks

Boca Raton Elks Lodge #2166 received the Elks National Foundation Beacon and Spotlight grants totaling $5,500 and used the funds to purchase school supplies for Orchard View Elementary School and Silver Lake School such as folders, notebooks, pens, pencils, markers and scissors for the use in the classroom.  Because of this year’s unique circumstances due to the pandemic, they also supplied masks, hand sanitizer and classroom cleansers. Pictured at Orchard View Elementary School Aug. 26 are Shirley Board; Tito Young, Exalted Ruler; Ian MacDonald; Catherine MacDonald; John DeCicco; Tony Young, teacher; Vic Weliky; Susie Christensen; Jerry Christensen; and a faculty member whose name was unavailable. In the front are Mrs. Lee, principal, and Mrs. Sarnelli, teacher. Pictured at Silver Lake School Sept. 2 are Ian MacDonald; Shirley Board; Tito Young, Exalted Ruler; Mrs. Lopez, principal; and Pat Maher, lodge member and teacher.

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Written by Carol Eaton

Delray Beach Lodge donated $1,750, half of its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant, to Living Hungry, an organization that partners with other groups to help feed those who are hungry. Lodge member Maura Plante founded the organization and puts a large focus on feeding children. Living Hungry is based in Delray Beach, Florida, and has a warehouse in West Palm Beach, Florida. During the pandemic, they are providing 2,774 families in Delray Beach with 20 pounds of fresh produce, milk, cheese and meat every week. Living Hungry receives donated food boxes from the USDA Farmers to Families Food Boxes program but still is responsible for covering the expenses during the food distribution events such as forklift and pallet jack rentals, equipment, water, snacks and insurance; the lodge’s donation will help with these costs. Gregg Simpson, lodge member, and Becky Knapp, spouse of member Tim Knapp, packed cars with boxes twice a week for two months. Pictured Aug. 27 during a distribution event are Cecil Broderick, Exalted Ruler; Plante; and Carol Eaton, lodge treasurer, along with the many volunteers of the day.

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Written by Pompano Beach Elks

Bud Legere, Pompano Beach Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler, has applied for the Gratitude Grant to provide nonperishable supplies for St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry which is sponsored by St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church. There has not been any activity since the closed out the Beacon Grant March 31 due to the coronavirus. Prior to the pandemic, though, Legere and his wife, Sandy, spent many volunteer hours purchasing nonperishables and replenishing and distributing food from the pantry. The Pantry serves needy families and those who are homeless in the depressed area of the city. This will be the third year that the lodge has supported the pantry. “Bud and Sandy Legere have served as volunteers for over seven years, including a three-year term as Treasurer and Vice President, respectively. Even though they “retired” about a year ago, they continue to help us, especially with obtaining the generous grants they have gotten from the Elks Club. They have been invaluable and reliable volunteers throughout these years,” says Joseph Maloney, president of the St. Vincent de Paul Conference.

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Written by Pompano Beach Elks

Pompano Beach Elks Lodge #1898 sponsored two Elks National Foundation scholarship winners. Daniel Ardity placed second nationally in the 2020 Top 20 Most Valuable Student scholarship and has been awarded $40,000 for his college career. Allysa Howitt, granddaughter of members Jennie and Stu Howitt, PER, is a recipient of the Legacy Award, receiving $4,000. She is required to participate in three service events and submit a detailed report. She is attending the University of Florida.