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Written by David Roche

On Aug. 5, Eustis Elks Lodge #1578 held its annual teacher appreciation breakfast, with 90 teachers attending. The event was put on by 12 lodge members. Door prizes were valued at more than $3,000 and included school supplies, five $100 bills and $400 in gift cards. There was also a jar of cash for attendees to guess the amount in it, which was $136. The lodge spent a total of $5,000 on this event. The lodge Drug Awareness Committee attended and gave each teacher a bag with Grand Lodge and Florida Elks brochures, lodge drug awareness pencils, coloring books, red ribbons and stickers.

Pictured are breakfast attendees and the prize table.

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Written by Deborah Reedy, PER

In June, Jacksonville Elks Lodge delivered two Welcome Home kits for veterans. David Graham, Exalted Ruler, and Donnie Rowand, House Committee Chair, helped Karen Tracy, Veterans Services Chair, in loading and delivering the kits. Both veterans were very appreciative, and one of them said that receiving the kit took a lot of stress off him. Pictured are veteran Charles, David Graham and Karen Tracy. Also pictured are David Graham and Donnie Rowand with the trailer of kit items for the second veteran. 

On July 23, Karen Tracy, Jacksonville Lodge Veterans Services Chair, and David Graham, Exalted Ruler, helped veteran Joshua move in to his new apartment. He moved in on a Friday with nothing except his backpack and a water bottle. The lodge provided him with a bed, bedding, towels, lamps, nightstand, chairs, waste can, mop and broom. Over the weekend, larger furniture was delivered. Some of the furniture was bought using the Welcome Home kit funds and other pieces were donated. Joshua is the fifth recipient of the lodge’s Welcome Home Kits. Joshua is pictured with some of his new items in his apartment. Also pictured is a truck full of his items.

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Written by Pete Jordan

On July 13, Port St. Lucie Lodge’s Exalted Ruler, Thomas Randazzo, left, and Secretary, Frederick Barth, second from right, distributed 108 backpacks filled with school supplies to the Boys & Girls Club of St. Lucie County. These supplies were purchased using an Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant. Boys & Girls Club program director, Tasha Mitchell, middle, accepted these much-needed supplies.

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Written by Lake City and Live Oak Elks

Lake City and Live Oak Elks lodges provided a barbecue meal to the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program for the Florida Army National Guard, which was held at the Blanche Hotel in downtown Lake City, Florida, July 15 for Guard members and their families. Live Oak Elks provided smoked pork and Lake City Elks provided the sides, sweets and drinks for more than 125 returning veterans.

Pictured are Stanley Cox, PDD and Angela Cox of Lake City #893; John Dill, PDD of Live Oak #1165; Brandy Meeks, Lake City Elk-Mates Treasurer; Chris Samson, Lake City Exalted Ruler; Andy Hillhouse, Live Oak Exalted Ruler; Snuffy Smith, PDD and Amy Smith of Live Oak #1165; and Jamie Pardee of Live Oak #1165. Also pictured are returning National Guard members and family members in the lunch lines.

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Written by Beverly Pittman-Pardee

On June 21, Live Oak Elks Lodge #1165 donated its $2,500 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to the Suwannee River Regional Library to help support their summer reading program.

Pictured with three library representatives are members Donald Watson, Bobby Dale Cason and Lori Watson, lodge grant coordinator (second from right). Behind the camera is Andy Hillhouse, Exalted Ruler.

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Written by West Palm Beach Elks

On June 17, West Palm Beach Elks Riders held an event to benefit Project Hope Autism Services in Jupiter, Florida. They hosted a dinner with music at the lodge. With more than 150 attendees, $4,000 was raised.

Pictured are Kyle Segura, who has autism, and his father, Robert.