South Southwest District

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Written by Naples Elks

During the summer, Naples Elks Lodge #2010 partnered with Our Daily Bread Food Pantry on Marco Island in Florida. The lodge donated its $2,000 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to them, which was used to supplement any food products that were needed to complete the weekly provision packages. Beginning July 15, the lodge’s youth Antlers group provided volunteers to help on-site multiple days during the hot summer. The Antlers completed whatever tasks they were given, from stacking pantry shelves to scrubbing carts in preparation for the more than 700 families the facility provides food to every Saturday. They proudly wore their Naples Antler shirts and a smile every day they were there.

Pictured are Mike Cory and George Rogers, pantry volunteers; Nancy and Ron McClay, pantry managers; Jeff Hultgren and Matt Basler, pantry volunteers; Lucy Reid, Jacob Schmidt, and Christophe Savoie, Antlers members; and Mike Adamski, PER. Also pictured are the Antlers working with pantry volunteers inside the facility.

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Written by Teresa Bird

On July 27, Punta Gorda Elks Lodge #2606 presented a check for $150 to the Punta Gorda Fire Department for its Fire Safety and Injury Prevention Program. This donation will provide fire safety education materials for 50 children in the community. By teaching children fire safety and burn prevention awareness, tragic fire losses and deaths can be prevented. 

Pictured are Charlie Moores, Loyal Knight, and J. Tyler Canfield, PGFD operations chief.

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Written by Teresa Bird

On May 19, Punta Gorda Elks Lodge #2606 presented scholarships totaling $21,000 to Charlotte High School seniors at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center in Punta Gorda, Florida. The lodge donated $15,000, the Elkettes donated $4,000 and the PER Association donated $2,000. There were two $2,000 scholarships and 17 $1,000 scholarships. The scholarships were presented by Elkettes members Judy Schall and Carole Milroy. 

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Written by Teresa Bird

On June 10, Punta Gorda Elks Lodge #2606 hosted a children’s fishing tournament on their long pier in the Charlotte County community. There were 181 children participating with 58 members volunteering their time to register children, cut bait, untangle lines, prepare and serve lunch, take photos, and award prizes. The children competed by age — 2-5, 6-10 and 11-14 — and received medals in each category for first fish caught, longest fish, most fish and most unusual fish. A 5-year-old received a trophy for the most fish caught overall, two. The children and parents were treated to a picnic lunch of hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, watermelon and juice boxes. Each child also received their own fishing rod to keep and a backpack that included tackle/lures, a visor, lip balm, coloring book, sunscreen and sunglasses. The event was sponsored by Fishing Franks, who provided rods and tackle at cost; Punta Gorda Isles Fishing Club members Rick Sanders and Mike White, who solicited donations for additional rods and tackle; the Elkettes, who donated $1,500; and the Lodge PER Association, which donated $1,000. The variety of fish caught in the Peace River were redfish, stingray, red snapper, catfish, mango snapper, spadefish and toadfish.

Pictured are kids fishing on the pier and Tom Shoecraft, Exalted Ruler.

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Written by Diane Hendrick

On July 5, David Santini, vice president of Hearts and Homes for Veterans Inc., presented a plaque to Fort Myers Elks Lodge #1288 for its generous contributions to Hearts and Homes over the past five years. The plaque thanks the lodge for their continuous support of their mission of "Veterans Helping Veterans." Fort Myers Elks has donated more than $30,000 to Hearts and Homes from both its Elks National Foundation grants and its charity account. Pictured is David Santini, Hearts and Homes for Veterans vice president, presenting the plaque to John Beckett, Exalted Ruler.