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Written by Jacksonville Elks

On Dec. 6, Jacksonville Lodge delivered the 19th and 20th Welcome Home Kits to veterans transitioning from the Northeast Florida Women Veterans Center. Navy veteran Pat is a retired senior who is writing a book. Although she had several boxes in her living room, she said they mostly contained books, so the kit of kitchen, bathroom and cleaning supplies was most appreciated. Army and Air Force veteran Natalie’s kit was smaller, since she had already received several household items from other resources. She was very grateful for the two living room chairs so she could “finally sit down.” They were each gifted a donated patriotic quilt from the Comfort n Quilters group. A total of $290.59 was spent on the kits for both veterans.
Other items donated included in the Kits were pillows, bedding, blankets, dishes, pots and pans, kitchenware, towels, basic toiletries, shower liner, light bulbs, broom, mop and bucket, sponges, and a coffee maker, as well and food items purchased at the NAS JAX Commissary by Karen Tracy.

Pictured are Pat and Natalie with their quilts.

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Written by Virginia Warfield

On Dec. 20, St. Petersburg Elks Lodge members assembled 306 holiday food parcels to benefit local families in need. Each bag contained ham, mashed potatoes and gravy mix, stuffing, green beans, corn, and cranberry sauce. The food, valued at $7,500, was purchased with a $2,000 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant; a $4,000 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant; and donations from lodge and Ladies members. The parcels were distributed to the community by Northside Baptist Church and Tyrone Middle School.

Pictured are lodge members who packed the parcels.

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Written by Linda Califf

Gainesville Elks Lodge #990 uses the Elks National Veterans Service Commission Welcome Home Kit program to help veterans move from homelessness into independent living. The lodge partners with the local HUD-VASH Honor Center to receive the names of veterans in need and quickly responds to the social workers’ requests for assistance in providing the veterans with their immediate needs. To date, the lodge has submitted 36 kits to the ENVSC for reimbursement and have given more than 120 kits total to veterans, using additional funds from their Veterans account and ENVSC Freedom Grants. The ENVSC provides reimbursement per veteran of up to $400 per kit and up to $600 for each kit that includes a bed.

On Oct. 18, veteran Eric Lema and his twin daughters, Raediance and Raelynn, received their kit. The girls got new beds and bedding. Eric and his family received other donated furniture and household items. On Dec. 16 and Dec. 17, the lodge shopped for eight veterans, four each day. Pictured are Linda Califf, Veterans Chair, and Lori Salmons, Elk volunteer and bartender.

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Written by Jeff Rumler, PDD

On Nov. 24, a group of veterans from the Lake Nona VA visited Sanford Lodge for the monthly lunch and game day. They were served a Thanksgiving meal and pumpkin pie. Veterans helped decorate stockings that were later filled and sent to American soldiers overseas for Christmas by member Caryn George. One of the lodge’s minor members, Collin Carver, wanted to let the veterans help him with his school science project. He baked hundreds of cookies with six sugar types. The veterans had a great time tasting and ranking them for his project.

Pictured are veterans decorating stockings and with Collin Carver.

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Written by Tracy Carroll, PER

On Nov. 23, 28 Green Cove Springs Elk volunteers packed children's gift bags with items purchased by the Harry-Anna Trust Fund’s matching ENF Beacon Grant and jewelry gift bags from a distributor donation to the Elks. On Dec. 7, 25 Elk volunteers partnered with the city to host Santa's Workshop at the annual Christmas festival and parade. Volunteers distributed 450 gift bags to children and 500 jewelry gift bags to adults. Before the event, members Mike McNaney; Laquetta Willimon, trustee; and Joy Elrod, Loyal Knight, coordinated volunteers from several local organizations to set up more than 225 Christmas trees throughout Spring Park to add to the holiday enjoyment for the community. Stuart Williams, Leading Knight, represented the lodge as a parade judge.

Pictured distributing gifts are Kathy Hughson; Greg Hughson, PDD; Barbara Thompson, House Committee secretary; and members Eddie Thompson and Dina Sakowski.

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Written by Judy Wise

Plant City Lodge partnered with People's Life Institute to distribute 50 turkeys and 50 boxes of food to make Thanksgiving better for some of Hurricane Milton's victims. The recipients applied for the food through People's Life Institute. Some local pastors helped deliver some of the food to people who lost their cars to flooding. The Elks purchased the food using funds from the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant. The lodge did a similar distribution just before Christmas.

Pictured are Glen Gary, PLI volunteer; Judy Wise, Exalted Ruler; and Linda Dougherty, PLI executive director.