West Central District

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Written by Rita Smith

On Sept. 2, Tampa Lodge delivered school supplies valued at approximately $400 to West Shore Elementary School in Port Tampa, Florida. Due to the pandemic, lodge members were unable to hold a back-to-school party this year, so the Youth Activities Chair, Patty Volpe, asked members to donate school supplies for local students instead. West Shore Elementary was chosen based on their high percentage of students who receive Title 1 funding in the form of free lunches. The school was also chosen because a survey of other south Tampa fraternal organizations indicated that the school was not on any of their lists. Visitors are not allowed inside any school at the present time; there is not even a volunteer screening page on the school board’s website. Linda Drawdy, principal, was very appreciative and she took time out her busy day to come outside to thank the members who delivered the supplies. Because foot traffic at the lodge is low due to the pandemic and the donations were down considerably from previous years, Volpe set up an Amazon wish list that will allow anyone to purchase supplies online and choose to have them delivered directly to the school under the lodge’s name. The need is pretty high at this school that has so many students from families with low incomes and there is not any nearby shopping for families without transportation. Pictured with the supplies are Volpe; Shannon Wheatley, Lecturing Knight; and Marilyn Rivera, school custodian.

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Written by Tampa Elks

Using social media, Mary Win Wilson Proudfoot asked the community to help her teach her art classes at Robinson High School in Tampa, Florida. The county has a new hybrid virtual or classroom teaching platform and she felt a big-screen television would facilitate her teaching. Tampa Elks Lodge member Shelagh Gombarcik, PER saw the social media post and presented the project to the board of directors and  the membership who agreed to use the lodge’s charity fund to make the purchase which totaled $400. Gombarcik delivered the television and a wall mount to the school Aug. 27. Pictured are Gombarcik and Proudfoot.

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Written by May Graci

 While many people have had to stay home to avoid exposure to the coronavirus, police officers, firefighters and paramedics are on the frontlines of this pandemic putting their own health at risk to serve the community. On Aug. 7, St. Petersburg Lodge provided 30 pizzas to additional police and fire departments. The extra-large pepperoni and meat pizzas were made by the lodge’s chef, John Bauer. Three teams delivered 16 pizzas to St. Petersburg Police Department (SPPD), 12 pizzas to St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue Station (SPFR) and 2 pizzas to St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Station No. 9. The value of the donation was $315.  Pictured at SPPD are Al Literski, Lecturing Knight; Sharon Literski, Loyal Knight; Officer Gabriella Burger; Officer Rick McKee; H. Tom Shriver, PDD; Cathy Shriver, PER; Officer Michael Schade; and Officer April Grasso. Pictured at SPFR are Joanne Matos, PER, West Central District Vice President; Eric Matos, lodge member; Lt. Steve Lawrence; and Mimi Reich, lodge member. Pictured at Station No. 9 are LT Adras; Kirk Martin, Inner Guard; Probie Wright; David Walker; Hope Jagodzinski; and Justin Woodard.

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Written by May Graci

On July 23, St. Petersburg Lodge members donated and delivered 24 pizzas to first responders. When you’re in the middle of a crisis, sometimes the easiest things are forgotten, including a meal while you’re working. "Our goal with this donation was to take care of the people who take such great care and protect us. We wanted them to know that they are appreciated and honored at this critical time. It was a privilege to be able to offer some form of comfort to those who have been working literally nonstop,” said Doc Cook, Exalted Ruler. Cook and Kirk Martin, Inner Guard, made four deliveries — six pizzas to Lealman Fire and Police, eight pizzas to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center, six pizzas to Pinellas Park Fire & Police and four pizzas to Kenneth City Fire & Police. With a generous discount, the lodge spent $260 for the meals which gave the first responders a chance to sit down, eat something warm and get a nice break. Cook received immediate feedback when he dropped the meals off at these organizations and he could tell that there were big smiles beneath the face masks. The first responders know that they are supported by the community. Pictured at Lealman Fire Department and Rescue are Michael Harris, Tim Bennett, Doc Cook, Kirk Martin, Bill Vasquez and Chris Cobos. Pictured at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center are Tessa Jones, Doc Cook, Stephen O-Boyle, Kristen Dudash and Inner Guard Kirk Martin. The names of those pictured with Kirk Martin and Doc Cook at Pinellas Park Fire and Police Department were not available.

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Written by May Graci

On July 24, St. Petersburg Lodge donated $1,000 to be a hole-in-one sponsor for the 11th annual golf classic for St. Anthony’s Hospital of St. Petersburg, Florida. The tournament is scheduled Oct. 23 at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Golf Resort in Tampa, Florida. The funds raised will benefit the Susan Sheppard McGillicuddy Breast Center which offers exceptional care for women’s health needs.

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Written by May Graci

On July 22, St. Petersburg Lodge donated $270 to Southeastern Guide Dogs (SGD), a nonprofit with a national reach whose Florida location is in Palmetto. SGD is committed to providing highly trained, elite guide or service dogs of the highest pedigree for people who are visually impaired, veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and children with disabilities. SGD provides the premier dogs and lifetime services at no cost to the recipients.