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Written by Jupiter Elks

Jupiter Lodge’s members and community members supported the lodge's Angel Tree this year. With their generosity, the lodge made holiday dreams come true for 117 local children in need. Many volunteers shopped for the gifts and prepared the packages, which were delivered Dec. 20-21.

Pictured are lodge members Bobby and Iris Paul with Ms. Inez at Jupiter Elementary School. 

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Written by Titusville Elks

From Dec. 15 to Dec. 24, Titusville Elks Lodge #2113 opened its Christmas gift-wrapping tent and Drug Awareness Education trailer outside a Walmart store in Titusville, Florida, to raise funds for the Florida Elks Youth Camp by wrapping gifts for shoppers. Two and a half days were lost due to rain, but the project carried on the other days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and raised more than $1,300 with the help of numerous Elks and ladies members. All the gift wrapping, tissue paper and bows were donated by lodge members.

Pictured are Mark Morris and Doris Becraft, Leading Knight.

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Written by Diane Hendrick

The Salvation Army Angel Tree project provides Christmas gifts for families in need in southwest Florida. This year, Fort Myers Elks Lodge #1288 sponsored five of these families. Christmas donations of clothing and toys came from members and guests who chose tags from the lodge's Angel Tree and shopped for those children. Monetary donations also came from members, and $100 Publix gifts were donated to each family by the Fort Myers Ladies of Elks. In all, the members and lodge supplied each family with approximately $500 in clothing and toys for the children and funds to purchase their Christmas dinner.

Pictured Dec. 18 is Angel Tree Committee member Gail Mascari (right) with one of the families after she and her husband, Frank, delivered the gifts.

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Written by Rita Smith

On Dec. 26, Tampa Lodge members Edie Hanley, Inner Guard, and Rita Smith, Leading Knight, arrived at Open Arms Ministry at 7 a.m. to give a Christmas card containing a $25 Walmart gift card and a one-day unlimited bus pass to each person in the homeless population who arrived for coffee and a bagged meal, fresh dessert and good company. According to the ministry’s records, 75 people in need were served. The remaining cards will be given to the veterans without homes from the James A. Haley VA Domiciliary when they attend a lodge dinner. This project was financed by the Florida State Elks Association matching funds of an Elks National Foundation grant. 

Pictured are Edie Hanley distributing a card and Leo Dougherty, an Open Arms volunteer, checking in a client.

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Written by Manasota Elks

On Dec. 18, Manasota Elks Lodge #2734 held its children’s Christmas party with families from the three Title 1 schools the lodge partners with — Abel Elementary, Moody Elementary and Oneco Elementary schools. Thirteen families and a total of 33 children were served a hot breakfast. After breakfast, Santa arrived by fire truck and was greeted by the children outside the lodge. Needless to say, they were very excited! Santa’s elf, Jack, gave out their wrapped gifts, which included an outfit of clothing, a toy and a McDonald’s gift certificate. The children visited with Santa while family members took pictures. Each family also received a food basket with a ham as well as nonperishable food. This was all made possible by funds from the lodge’s Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant, 30 lodge volunteers, Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue Station 4, and of course, Santa (Tim Hillman) and his elf (Jack Shutts).

Pictured are two children visiting with Santa and Jack the elf.

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Written by Bud Tipton

Crestview and Twin Cities Elks lodges held an emergency toy drive Dec. 18 and Dec. 19 for families in western Kentucky who had serve damage from recent tornadoes. Kentucky Elks have reported three lodges with damage from the storms. Members of Crestview and Twin Cities lodges donated approximately $750 worth of toys and mailed them to Louisville Lodge #8.

Pictured are Tom Kuhn, Twin Cities Lodge Exalted Ruler; Tammy Kuhn, Twin Cities Lodge Secretary; and the children of Bud Tipton, Crestview Lodge Exalted Ruler: Carter Tipton, Addie Tipton, Paisley Tipton and Myrlic Brown. Myrlic and Carter are also a part of the Crestview Antlers program for youth.