Florida Elks News

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Written by: Mary Kay Burns

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Arcadia Elks Lodge #1524 partnered with the DeSoto County School District and the DeSoto County Health Department to host a back-to-school fair at the Turner Center in Arcadia, Florida, July 23. The venue’s parking lot accommodated the large turnout for the drive-thru event. More than 1,400 students received school supplies and the required headphones every student in the district needs, which plug in to their computer that they use every day. Many families cannot afford to purchase them and the school district does not provide them. So, the lodge applied for the Elks National Foundation Beacon and Gratitude grants and received $8,500. With these funds and the help of the school district’s curriculum staff, the school district purchased 1,416 headsets at a discounted price.

School supplies were donated by the DeSoto County Health Department, The Desoto County Sheriff's Department, the DeSoto County School District and all county schools, Senior Friendship Center, DeSoto Memorial Hospital, the Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida, the Salvation Army, the Department of Children and Families, and the Hanley Foundation. All Faiths Food Bank provided food.

On the Thursday and Friday before the event, volunteers from the lodge, school district and health department packed all the bags with the supplies. On Saturday morning, volunteers began to bring the bags outside at 7 a.m. The event was schedule to begin at 8 a.m., but due to the growing line of vehicles already arriving, they opened the gates at 7:30 a.m. Two lanes were formed as the parents drove through the line and volunteers handed supplies into the vehicle. Children were required to be in the vehicles so that the volunteers knew how many bags of supplies to give. Within two hours, all bags had been given. Ten lodge members as well as the school superintendent and all the principals assisted in the event.

Pictured June 28 at the check presentation to the DeSoto County School District for the headphones during a school board meeting are Dr. Bennett, school superintendent; Danny Via, school board member and lodge member; Karen Chancey, school board member; Kelly Mercer, lodge officer; Nancy Higginbotham, Exalted Ruler; Asena Mott, school board chair; and Mary Kay Burns, lodge trustee. Pictured at the event are Mary Kay Burns and Kelly Mercer with the headphones and the line of vehicles waiting for supplies.

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Written by: Eustis Elks

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Eustis Lodge hosted a teacher appreciation breakfast Aug. 6 for 87 teachers and 20 staff members from 11 elementary schools in the area. Using funds from the charity account, the lodge also donated 20 $50 gift cards, $1,000 worth of school supplies, five $100 cash prizes and $500 in prize items from Learning Store and Walmart for a total of $3,000. Members donated additional school supplies as well. Ron Locke, PDD, Exalted Ruler, thanked them for all they do to develop future leaders.

Pictured are teachers and school staff members.

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Written by: Pauline Talbott

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When Sebastian Elks Lodge #2714 heard that Pareidolia Brewing was hosting their first open golf scramble July 30 to benefit the Hibiscus Children’s Center, they stepped right up to help make the event a success by recruiting raffle items, goody bag items and sponsors. The lodge was a silver sponsor and the ladies auxiliary, the EL-DOEs, was a tee sponsor. The Hibiscus Children’s Center is a nonprofit organization serving the Treasure Coast of Florida by providing safe nights of care to children and teens who have been abused and neglected. The event was held at Sandridge Golf Club in Vero Beach and raised more than $8,100 for the charity.

Pictured are Mary Ducharme (ladies auxiliary treasurer); Nancy Miller, PDD from Viera Elks Lodge; teen twin volunteers Serena and Sophia Cobble; Pauline Talbott, Lodge Drug Awareness Education Chair; and Loreto Murray, director of outreach and events at Hibiscus Children's Center.

Also pictured are some of the raffle items.

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Written by: Suzanne Cunningham

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On Aug. 2, five Anna Miller Circle 1578 members packed and distributed school supplies totaling over $1,000 for Triangle Elementary School in Mount Dora. All supplies were donated by Anna Miller Circle members and Eustis Lodge members. The ladies group has a long record of supporting elementary schools, and for many years it has been Triangle Elementary. For the second year they also packed school supplies for The Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties. The Haven received supplies for four elementary school students, four middle school students and three high school students staying at the Haven safe house with their mothers. Including these donations, the total donation value is approximately between $1,200 and $1,400.

Pictured are Beverly Dufresne; Hayden Dufresne, granddaughter; Maryanne Cerney, The Haven Project chair; Sharon McGlon; Chris Getchell, Anna Miller Circle President; and Judy McCarroll.

Also pictured are Debbie Hartog, Triangle Elementary principal, and Chris Getchell.

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Written by: Rick Barth, PER

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On the evening of June 24 at Port St. Lucie Elks Lodge #2658 during a bingo game, member Mike Keleher was looking at the veterans’ wall of service photos, which honors lodge members who are veterans. As he was looking, he recognized his best friend, who he served with in 1962 but hadn’t seen in 55 years — Harry Keat. Both men were Air Force policemen during the Cuban Missile Crisis stationed at the Air Force base in Homestead, Florida. Mike told April Barth, who runs the bingo program, that he would like to get in touch with Harry. Harry’s wife, Karen, happened to be at the lodge playing bingo, so she called Harry, who came to the lodge in about 15 minutes. When the men were stationed in Florida, they owned a car together. When Mike shipped out, Harry told him he would sell the car and split the money with him. Harry sold the car for $100 and was then shipped out to Vietnam. So, the first thing Harry said to Mike when they were reunited after 55 years was, “I owe you 50 bucks.”

This story was shared by Rick Barth, PER, Lodge Secretary, Harry’s brother-in-law.

Pictured are Harry and Mike in front of the veterans’ photo wall.

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Written by: Jerry Harrington, PER

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Jerry Harrington of Viera Elks Lodge #2817 made his official Southeast Central District Vice President’s visit July 23 to Cocoa Elks Lodge. The Viera Antlers group served dinner and cleaned up after the festivities. Several Antlers advisors attended the event as well, including Viera Lodge member Heidi Vargas. The Antlers is the junior Elks program made up of youths ages 12 to 20 who perform community service for projects that lodges sponsor.

Members of the Antlers pictured are Sam Matini, Max Mendoza, Kati Calvert and Louie Nieto.

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Written by: Peggie Sue Dygert

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On June 15, veterans from Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans Nursing Home in Port Charlotte, Florida, enjoyed lunch and bingo at Deep Creek Elks Lodge #2763. Peggie Sue Dygert, lodge member and Elks Deputy VAVS Representative to the nursing home, purchased a case each of Hershey’s chocolate bars and Moon Pies for them to take back to the nursing home and she provided 24 sets of wheelchair gloves in various sizes, which were donated by the Elks leather program. Volunteers from the Ladies of Elks helped with calling bingo and visited with the veterans. Pictured are a grateful veteran enjoying his new gloves. Also pictured are the gloves and desserts.

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Written by: Becky Wills

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Viera Lodge is also assisting Wuesthoff Brevard Hospice & Palliative Care in their support of Honor Flight. Honor Flight is an all-volunteer network whose mission is to honor American veterans for the sacrifices they made for their country. Their top priority is the most senior veterans of World War II and those who are terminally ill. The veterans and their guardians are flown to the nation’s capital and are driven around Washington, D.C. by motorcoach to view the memorials for World War II, Korea and Vietnam. They also visit Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The entire trip is free to them and every need is provided for, such as wheelchairs and oxygen. Kasha Harrell, lodge member and an employee of the hospice, coordinates a group of volunteers from both organizations who prepare food at the lodge for all of the activities, from lunch on orientation day to box lunches for flight day. They feed between 100 and 150 veterans and guardians per flight. On May 22, Harrell was presented with a certificate of appreciation from the Florida State Elks Association for her outstanding contributions as a House Committee member, volunteer bartender, kitchen assistant, member recruiter and so much more.

Pictured June 20 at the hospice are Dawn King of the hospice; Kasha Harrell, lodge member and hospice employee; and Wendy Carns, PER, Treasurer.