Southwest Central District

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Written by Sebring Elks

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On May 15, Sebring Lodge Exalted Ruler, Joe Stockenberg, and Leading Knight and Americanism Chair, Diane Morse, attended the seventh grade awards ceremony at Sebring Middle School to present a check for $1,500 from the Florida State Elks Association to Adianez Cordero, seventh grade first place state winner of the Americanism essay contest. This year’s topic was What Does Patriotism Mean to Me? The lodge also donated a $100 gift card to Adianez’s teacher, Justin Ludlow, in appreciation for his encouraging students to enter the contest.

Pictured are Diane Morse, Leading Knight and Americanism Chair; Joe Stockenberg, Exalted Ruler; Adianez Cordero, essay winner; and Justin Ludlow, teacher.

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Written by Lakeland Elks

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On April 12, Lakeland Elks Lodge #1291 held a combined event for Bob Fuschetti, PER’s birthday and a cake auction fundraiser to benefit the Brotherhood Ride. All profits will benefit the families of fallen emergency first responders who gave their lives in the line of duty. The event raised $9,509.

Pictured in the back are Greg Hendon, Exalted Ruler; Jeff Morse, PER, Brotherhood Ride founder; and first responders Stacy Zedek, Stacey Justine, Javier Hernandez, and Dennis Sullivan. In the middle are Tom Ludwick, PSP; Garry Malone, PER;  Debbie Knutp; Lisa Respress; and Glen Karens. In the front are Sandy Fuschetti, Jacob Respress and Candy Morse.

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Written by Sebring Elks

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In April, Sebring Elks Lodge #1529 participated in the Florida State Elks Association’s Walgreens Community Food Drive. Sebring and Avon Park Walgreens stores’ customers donated nonperishable food items, which were collected by lodge members Linda Shuback, Gail Zemper and Sam Schroeder. A total of 696 items were brought to the lodge and a high school student spent several hours sorting, counting and organizing the items. The lodge then donated the items to the Avon Park Hands for Homeless feeding program to restock their pantry.

Pictured are Wainetta Holmes, PER; Sam Schroeder, PER; Jane Breylinger, Hands for Homeless CEO; Gail Zemper, Tiler; and Diane Morse, Leading Knight. 

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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.