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Written by Mary Lou Scribner, PER

Brandon Elks Lodge #2383, in collaboration with the Brandon Ladies of Elks (BLOE), presented 100 gift bags to James A. Haley Veterans Hospital (JAHVH). Donna Manusco-Fultz, BLOE member, chairs this annual event for the Brandon Ladies and says she is passionate about it because her father was cared for in JAHVH before he passed. She solicits donations and volunteers, purchases items for the gift bags, and ensures they are put together and ready for delivery. Robin Rutzke, Lodge Veterans Chair, worked with Manusco-Fultz and the Ladies to put together the 100 gift bags for delivery. Both Lodge and Ladies members packed the bags. Each bag had approximately $50 worth of items in them. Eighty-five of the bags contained gifts for men and 15 bags contained gifts for women. The items were purchased using $1,000 of the Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant and an anonymous donation of $2,000 made by an Elk member and widow of an Elk. More than $300 worth of items were also donated by members and Ladies. Each bag contained a $20 Patriot Coupon Book purchased with the anonymous donation. Patients can use the coupons to purchase items in the hospital’s canteen store, cafeteria, Starbucks and barbershop. On Jan. 23, Sharon Hammersla, PDD, lodge grants coordinator, delivered the gift bags to JAHVH for the veterans in the Spinal Cord Injury Center and Polytrauma. Excess bags were donated to the recreational therapy department at the hospital.

Pictured are Donna Manusco-Fultz, Ladies event chair, and Robin Rutzke, Lodge Veterans Chair; Ladies with the gift bag items; and Sharon Hammersla, PDD, center, delivering the gift bags to two JAHVH representatives.

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Written by Virginia Warfield

On Jan. 21, the St Petersburg Ladies of Elks Auxiliary held a pirate party to benefit local veterans in need at C.W. Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where Elks VAVS representative Johnny Miller is heavily involved. Lodge members and Ladies members and their guests were invited and were asked to bring a donation of essential clothing items, such as socks, underwear and T-shirts. A total of $507 in case was also collected.

Pictured are the pirate party event chairs, Farrah Pileggi, Ladies of Elks Auxiliary Vice President, and Adrienne Sproul, lodge Inner Guard and Ladies of Elks Auxiliary member, with Ladies of Elks Auxiliary members Karen Moyer, who is also a lodge member, and Heather Sproul-Orsini. Also pictured are Adrienne Sproul and Virginia Warfield, Ladies of Elks Auxiliary President, presenting Elks VAVS representative Johnny Miller with a check for $507. 

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Written by Debbie Brozyna

Members of Ormond Beach Elks Lodge #2193 used the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to provide Christmas gifts, toys and clothing to 17 local children. The lodge also provided Christmas meals for 42 members of the community.

Pictured Dec. 23 distributing gifts are Mark Madden, PER; Gerri Madden; John Andrews, Exalted Ruler; Nicole, gift recipient; Michael Chandler, PDD; and Bev Muscatello, Lodge Secretary. Other members who helped shop and deliver gifts and meals were Jackie Curtis-Andrews, PER; Carl Muscatello; James Wood; Shelley Wood; Flipper McAllister; Kristen Curtis; and Debbie Brozyna.

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Written by Tracy Carroll, PER

On Dec. 28, Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge #1892 used a portion of its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to sponsor a winter carnival at the Green Cove Springs Library. The event, geared toward children under the age of 6, featured crafts, games, ice cream, face painters, and story time with characters Elsa and Olaf from the movie “Frozen.” The event was attended by 165 children, 135 family members and 21 volunteers. Each child was given a book of their own to keep.

Pictured are story time and two children receiving their books.

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Written by Judy Hopkins, PER

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On Dec. 17, Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge #2781 teamed with the Pine Island F.I.S.H. (Fellow Islanders Sending Help) to set up a free holiday toy and gift store using the items collected from the Walgreens-Elks drive. Parents were invited to shop for two or three gifts per child. Concurrently, children had a free gift store as well, so they could shop for parents or grandparents.

Pictured are Michael Berio, F.I.S.H.; Darcy Connor, Elk; Lori Tidwell, F.I.S.H.; Salim Hakima, F.I.S.H.; Judy Hopkins, PER, Elk; Erika Rios, F.I.S.H.; and Alexis Girona, F.I.S.H. Photo credit/Tiffany Noel

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Written by Brian LoVetere

On Dec. 3, Holiday Isles Lodge held the first of what will be an annual Christmas festival at the lodge for members and their families and members’ friends. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived on a Madeira Beach Fire Department firetruck. There were 12 activities, crafts and games for the children; each game or station had a toy or prize they could win. They also had face painting and tattoo tables, golf cart rides, and presents. Kid-friendly food was provided throughout the event, including chicken tenders, meatballs, macaroni and cheese bites, fresh vegetables with dip, corn dogs, pigs in a blanket, water, sodas, and juice as well as a hot chocolate station with peppermint sticks for stirring and marshmallows for the top.

Member volunteers pictured in the back are Eric Crampton, Debbie Rase, Joseph Hart, Mike Querner, Jessica Shaw, George Thompson, Richard DeBlasio and Daniela Vinci. Seated are Sandra Gann, Christa Thompson, Dawn Crampton, Paula DeBlasio, Rhonda Smith, Jamie Hosni and Paulette Querner. Seated on the floor are Brooke Martin, Diane Piscopo and Loren Hanke.

Also pictured is Santa arriving.