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Southwest District
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge's Day at the Races Raises Large Sum for Lodge Charities
- Details
- Written by JoAnn Reddy
The Past Exalted Rulers of Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge held its annual Day at the Races event Feb. 20. Members pick their favorite horses from a list of 10 races that took place around the country. At this event, $3,500 was raised, which will be used to fund lodge charities.
Pictured are lodge members lining up to place their next bets and members reviewing the horse statistics while waiting for the race to begin.
Sarasota South Elks Lodge Assists Toys for Tots' Successful 2021 Campaign
- Details
- Written by Rose Wujcik, PER
Jim Lamb, PDD of Sarasota South Elks Lodge #2495 has served as the Sarasota County Coordinator for the Marine Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign for the past 20 years. This year was an especially busy year with all the problems associated with the pandemic and families requesting help for Christmas for their children. A total of 184,769 toys, including bicycles, books and stocking stuffers, were distributed to 17,540 children. Lamb organized the program and 51 lodge members worked 23,340 hours. PER Dave and Sherie Gillum of Venice-Nokomis Lodge #1854 helped, too. Richard Bouchard, PER from Sarasota South Lodge hosted a cruise-themed Toys for Tots fundraiser at the lodge that raised more than $5,000. Other campaign volunteers were from the VFW Post 3233, local schools and the Fraternal Order of Eagles #2756. Multiple businesses also held fundraisers throughout the county to support this year’s campaign.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Provide Christmas Meals to 12 Families in Need
- Details
- Written by Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks
On Dec. 22, Rick and Kay Thorson, members of Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge (pictured), delivered food baskets purchased by the lodge to the Salvation Army that contained items for 12 complete Christmas dinners. The food was then distributed to 12 targeted families sponsored by Pathway to Hope, an organization working with families that desire to break the generational cycle of crisis and enable a path out of poverty.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Donate Blood Every Eight Weeks
- Details
- Written by Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks
Every eight weeks, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge hosts the Sun Coast Blood Center for lodge members and their families to donate their lifesaving blood. Each donated unit can help treat up to three patients.
Pictured Dec. 16 are lodge member JoAnn Reddy and the Sun Coast bus.
South Hillsborough Lodge Hosts Hoop Shoot
- Details
- Written by South Hillsborough Elks
South Hillsborough Lodge held its annual Hoop Shoot Dec. 7 at Lennard Hight School in Ruskin, Florida. There were 21 participants. Pictured are first place winners Philip Greene, 12-13 boys; Hailey Palpazer, 10-11 girls; Breanna Gulotta, 12-13 girls; Manuel Rodriquez, 10-11 boys; and Dillon Hobbs, 8-9 boys.
Children in Foster Care Receive Gifts from South Hillsborough Elks
- Details
- Written by South Hillsborough Elks
Again this year, South Hillsborough Lodge participated in the Christmas tree program for children in foster care, and on Dec. 15, they provided presents for more than 20 children. The presents completely filled one trailer. Pictured are Matthew Perry from Foster Angels of Hillsborough County; Steve Conrad, Exalted Ruler; Ned Letts, Lecturing Knight; Janet Meyer, Loyal Knight; and Sugar Conrad, Leading Knight.
South Hillsborough Elks Donate Food for Kids in Need
- Details
- Written by South Hillsborough Elks
South Hillsborough Elks Lodge members have continued to provide Meet Me in the Street Ministry with boxes of food. The latest donation given Oct. 8 was donated to Ruskin Elementary School to support the children with weekend food backpacks. The organization is located in Ruskin, Florida, and feeds kids on Wednesdays and send packs of food home on weekends. Pictured are Steve Conrad, Exalted Ruler; Christine Hicks of Meet Me in the Street Ministry; Ned Letts, Lecturing Knight; and Sugar Conrad, Leading Knight.
Bradenton Elks Join Manatee Children's Services in Fight Against Child Abuse
- Details
- Written by Bradenton Elks
Bradenton Elks Lodge #1511 presented its $3,500 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to Manatee Children’s Services Dec. 2. Manatee Children’s Services provides a wide range of support for children and young adults, including child abuse counseling, temporary housing, groups homes, abuse identification, in-home training for parents and reporting assistance. The lodge joins their goal of assisting in the fight against child abuse in their area.
Pictured are Bob Erwin, PDD, Exalted Ruler, and Krista Post, Manatee Youth at Risk Development Coordination of Manatee Children’s Services.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Host Community Holiday Shoebox Drive Event
- Details
- Written by Randy Volkart
On Dec. 4, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge hosted a reception with a drive-thru drop-off option for the Community Holiday Shoebox Drive. The event benefits Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee to provide shoeboxes filled with gifts ranging from toiletries to holiday trinkets for seniors who are homebound. More than 1,500 shoeboxes, enough to fill two cargo vans, were donated by members of the lodge and community.
Pictured is Maribeth Phillips, CEO of Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee.
First Responders Treated to Cookies by Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks
- Details
- Written by Rick Thorson, PER
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge members Rick Thorson, PER; Kay Thorson; Joanne DiCarlo; and Mary Uris delivered 1,008 cookies Nov. 24 to first responders including the county sheriff and the State Highway Patrol office in the lodge’s jurisdiction. The trays included a message from the lodge thanking them for their service. This is an annual event.
South Hillsborough Elks Collect Food Items for Children and Families in Need
- Details
- Written by South Hillsborough Elks
On Aug. 15, South Hillsborough Elks Lodge #2672 presented Meet Me in the Street Ministry with 14 boxes and sacks of food. This organization located in Ruskin, Florida, feeds children and families in need on Wednesdays and sends packs of food home with them on weekends. Members, guests and friends of the Elks donated items such as individual applesauce and fruit cups, single-serve ravioli, macaroni and cheese and canned spaghetti, granola and snack bars, and so much more. The lodge will continue to collect donations for this project.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Make Donation to Southeastern Guide Dogs
- Details
- Written by Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks
On Sept. 22, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 donated $5,000 to Southeastern Guide Dogs and was matched by the Canine Care Council. Southeastern Guide Dogs provides guide and service dogs to people with vision loss, veterans with disabilities and children with significant challenges. These premier dogs and lifetime services are provided at no cost to the recipient. Pictured are lodge members Barbara Christopher, Mary Bilkie, and Tom Sweeney; Sean Brown of Southeastern Guide Dogs; and lodge member Pat Morocco.