Southwest Central District

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Written by Mary Lou Scribner, PER

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Brandon Elks Lodge #2383 was invited to be part of Walgreens’ first community food drive. Between March 29 and March 31, lodge members collected the donations at 14 assigned store locations. The lodge gave 399 pounds of food to Nativity Food Bank and another 75 pounds of food, along with socks and hygiene items, to Brandon Community High School to stock their food, clothing and hygiene pantry to help students and local families. On April 14, Robin Rutzke, Leading Knight, sorted and delivered the food to the pantries.

Robin Rutzke, Leading Knight, is pictured with John Malinowski, Nativity Food Pantry volunteer.

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Written by Sebring Elks

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On Feb. 21, Sebring Lodge provided two $750 scholarships for two children living in Highlands County to attend Camp Brave Heart, located in Lake Wales. This is an annual camp for children ages 6 to 16 who have experienced the loss of a loved one. For three days during the last weekend in March, children are given the opportunity to express and share their feelings. They are given activities to help them cope with the loss through games, horseback riding, art and nightly campfires. The check was presented at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Sebring.

Pictured are Brenda Walton, Lecturing Knight; Wainetta Holmes, PER; Dorothy Harris from the Good Shepherd Hospice House; and Diane Morse, Leading Knight.

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Written by Sebring Elks

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On March 10, Sebring Lodge hosted its Monday night bingo, with the players continuing to collect and donate nonperishable food items for Hands for Homeless in Avon Park. More than 280 cans were donated to help replenish the food pantry.

Pictured are Diane Morse, Leading Knight, and her grandson, Jeremiah Stone; Wainetta Holmes, PER; and Jane Breylinger, CEO for Hands for Homeless.

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Written by Sebring Elks

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On Feb. 18, Sebring Elks Lodge #1529 presented a $250 check to the Flash Stars Achievement Center in Sebring for a silver sponsorship of their 2025 walkathon. The program provides after-school care, educational enrichment and leadership development to elementary and middle school students.

Pictured are Brenda Walton, Lecturing Knight; Wainetta Holmes, PER; Vern Bolten, Flash Stars director; and Diane Morse, Leading Knight.

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Written by Lakeland Elks

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On Feb. 12, Lakeland Elks Lodge #1291 donated $2,000 from its Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant to the United Way of Central Florida for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. This program helps underprivileged children with their reading skills and provides books to them.

Pictured are Eric Schlaak, Exalted Ruler; Char Fisher; Al Literski, Lecturing Knight; and Amber Qureshi, United Way of Central Florida program manager.