West Central District

Details

Written by Patty Volpe & Rita Smith, PER

Hits: 133

Tampa Elks Lodge uses its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to fund the Motivated Mustangs Club at Madison Middle School, now in its second year. Member Patty Volpe is the project manager. The club meets monthly during second lunch, and there are two planned field trips. The school sponsor is the school’s social worker, Tessa Hunziker; she chooses the students who need extra support to succeed and invites them to the club. At the Sept. 17 meeting, the students and members got to know each other. Members provided pizza and dessert, with sodas or water. Each student got a second round of pizza to go, too. Lamari was the raffle winner of a $25 Walmart gift card. Leftover pizza and drinks were sent to the teachers’ lounge. This school year, the Elks have set up a snack pantry in the guidance office for club students who miss free breakfast or lunch due to arriving late.

This month’s volunteers were Patty Volpe, program manager; Elks Rosann Garcia, Carolyn Miller, and Rita Smith, PER; Laura Bell, PTA president; and Shelagh Gombarcik, PER.

Details

Written by Pattie Cloud

Hits: 266

Members of Holiday Isles Elks Lodge #1912 donated $600 worth of schools supplies, which Karen Pera, Lodge Secretary, delivered Aug. 11 to the principals and vice principals of Bardmoor Elementary and Mount Park Elementary.

Details

Written by Tarpon Springs Elks

Hits: 282

On Jan. 3, Tarpon Springs Elks Lodge #1719 donated $3,000 from its Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to Wheelchairs 4 Kids. With this donation, the organization can further its mission of improving the lives of children with physical disabilities. Mary Kurchinski applied for the grant and visited the office in Tarpon Springs to see the impact the contribution has made.

Pictured are Bob Gorby, PER; Mary Kurchinski, Lodge Grants Coordinator; Nancy Gorby, past lodge Ladies president; and a Wheelchairs 4 Kids staff member.

Details

Written by Virginia Warfield

Hits: 672

At the State President’s visit to the West Central District Sept. 14, St. Petersburg Lodge #1224 was awarded a first place $900 President's Grant after scoring highest among the district lodges for lodge procedures and tasks. The lodge will use this grant on their holiday food baskets project.

Pictured is State President Russ Smith presenting the President's Grant to Brian Haverfield, Exalted Ruler.

Details

Written by Largo Elks

Hits: 259

On July 6, Largo Elks Lodge members Steve and Maureen Dunham volunteered to drive seven students from four local schools to the Florida Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla. The kids spent the week there, and the following weekend, the Dunhams drove back to pick them up. Most of these kids had never been to camp before, and they attended this year at no cost to them because of camp scholarships. They all had a great time and were excited to make new friends and they hope to return next year.

Pictured are several campers at Largo Lodge the day they left for camp.

Details

Written by Carol Lee Spages

Hits: 273

On May 17, in honor of National Police Week, New Port Richey Lodge members presented the staff of the New Port Richey Police Department with a tray of cookies and a thank you card.

Pictured are Elizabeth Groves, Inner Guard and American Chair; Operation Lt. Chris Mellecker; and Pauline Moreno, lodge member.