West Central District

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Written by Rita Smith

On Feb. 1, Tampa Elks Lodge #708 donated $1,000 from its Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to the Robles Elementary PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) to improve the faculty lounge in an effort to improve morale. The school is on its third principal of the year. 

Pictured at the check presentation are Camden Lynn, Leading Knight; Crystal Johnson, one-year trustee; Bonnie James, Robles PTSA president; and Dr. Christine Harris, new principal. 

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Written by Virginia Warfield

On the second Sunday every month, St. Petersburg Elks Lodge #1224 holds a Jukebox Mania music bingo event to benefit the Harry-Anna Trust Fund. The game is hosted by lodge member Martin Brinkley of Batman Media. The host has a screen set up to display 30-second music videos (with the name of the song and artist shown). Players’ bingo cards have song names instead of numbers and members sing along while daubing the songs on their bingo cards. On Jan. 8, the first game of 2023 was enjoyed by more than 80 players, who donate $5 to play three games, and $410 was raised. Prizes for each game are given as a $10 lodge gift card.

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Written by Rita Smith

On Dec. 16, Tampa Elks Lodge #708 collected hundreds of toys from Walgreens collection boxes from the Walgreens-Elks Community Gift Drive. With the toys, they stocked a “store” during the lodge’s Christmas party for local children in need. Patty Volpe, Youth Activities Chair, maintains a database of families in need and had an impressive number of families, including some large foster families, respond with an RSVP. The children enjoyed a parade, played games and won prizes, had a photo visit with Santa, made pirate-themed crafts, and sang songs. They also enjoyed spaghetti, salad, applesauce and ice cream. Meanwhile, one adult from each family visited the staged store and “shopped” for presents for age-appropriate gifts for their children. Those presents were wrapped by volunteers for the Academy of the Holy Names Rowing Club, placed in a large black sack, and hustled out to the parking lot to be stowed in trunks. Each child received approximately five gifts. Some families even won a bike as part of a raffle. There were about 150 children and adults involved.

Pictured are Santa (George Hilficker, House Committee Chair) and Adonis.

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Written by Dan Masi

St. Petersburg Lodge #1224 held a toy drive-thru Dec. 17. Four hundred vehicles came through and 1,000 gifts were given out.

Pictured are Jaymi Lester, Chris Olivia, Jessica Sites and Lakia Lancaster, Walgreens managers from District 642, and Chuck Pappas, 642 district manager.

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Written by Brian LoVetere

Holiday Isles Elks Lodge #1912 held a creative fundraising event to increase its number of Harry-Anna Trust Fund sustaining donors for the Florida Elks major projects. It was called “Fall for Harry-Anna” and was an anything-pumpkin cook-off. There were 14 dishes to taste and judge. Fall-themed baskets were and will be raffled off as different levels are reached. Four donors signed up during the event. Since the event, they have met the 25 donors goal and will raffle off a basket at the next orientation meeting.

Pictured are Jeff Rumler, PDD, Harry-Anna Trust Fund State Chair; Dan Masi, PER, FSEA Development Director; Carl Seibert, PDD, COO/State Secretary; Rhonda Smith, PER, District Harry-Anna Trust Fund Chair; Renee Singer, Lodge Harry-Anna Trust Fund Chair; and Sheila Tortorigi, Lodge Harry-Anna Trust Fund Vice Chair. They were very impressed with the lodge’s renewed energy toward gaining sustaining donors.

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Written by Virginia Warfield

St. Petersburg Elks Lodge #1224 held a fundraiser Nov. 11 for the family of fallen Pinellas County Police Deputy Michael Hartwick, who was killed in the line of duty. The event raised $3,000.

Pictured are lodge members Patrick Mulligan, retired Pinellas County Deputy Sheriff; Eric Loveday, Pinellas County Deputy Sheriff; and Doug Breyette.