South Southeast District

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Written by Boca Raton Elks

Boca Raton Elks Lodge #2166 held a chili cook-off to bring in new members. Lodge members and local firefighters, paramedics, and police officers brought their best dishes to be judged.  Veterans from Palm Beach State College judged the chili dishes and named the first-place, second-place and third-place winners. The People’s Choice award was named by the members. The lodge gained two new members as a result of this event.

Using an Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant, Boca Raton Lodge donated $500 to the Boca Raton High School marching band, $300 to Island Dolphin Care and $300 to the Florence Fuller Child Development Center.

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Written by Delray Beach Elks

Delray Beach Lodge donated $1,000 to the Delray Beach Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. Delray Reads Day is an annual community-wide event established in 2012 to support this campaign by bringing community leaders and residents into area schools to learn more about how they can help schools and students. The goal is to create long-term relationships between the schools and community members and show the community's commitment to improving students' third-grade reading scores by 50 percent before the end of 2020.

Delray Beach Lodge member Johnny Mackey reads to children during the Delray Reads event.

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Written by Hollywood West Elks

On Nov. 7, Hollywood West Lodge hosted the local Hoop Shoot competition in Hollywood at the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County. Several lodge volunteers assisted Hoop Shoot Chairman and Exalted Ruler, Paul Houser in making this competition fun for all participating. Afterward, a ceremony was held awarding trophies and ribbons. 

On Nov. 10, Hollywood West Lodge member Bennie Stravato coordinated a charity motorcycle ride to benefit the Harry-Anna Trust Fund. Over 20 bikers from the lodge and others from the community participated in the event which generated a large profit from the sale of 106 tickets. The ride commenced at the lodge followed by a visit to West Palm Beach Lodge and a stop at Oakland Park Lodge on the return trip. A barbecue was held at the lodge after the ride.

On Dec. 1, Hollywood West Lodge hosted their annual Dinty Moore dinner to raise money for their annual children’s Christmas party. Children from the local Hope Outreach Center were invited to the lodge where they greeted Santa who arrived on a local fire truck. The children were served a complimentary lunch, got to visit with Santa and received a goodie bag and a personal gift from Santa.

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Written by Boca Raton Elks

Boca Raton Lodge held their annual Hoop Shoot Nov. 3 at a local church. Many of them moved on to compete in the district Hoop Shoot Dec. 1, and all the Boca Raton contestants moved on to the regional competition.

During December, Boca Raton Lodge collected new, unwrapped toys which were distributed to needy local families by the Boca Raton Firefighters’ Benevolent Association. A blood drive was also held.

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Written by Boca Raton Elks

On Oct. 20-21, Boca Raton Elks Lodge #2166 held a weekend-long membership drive within the community. Saturday featured an Oktoberfest with German beer, food and music. The weekend resulted in three membership applications.