Details

Written by Louis Mallory

On Oct. 4, Stephen “Clay” Perdue, house manager of the Gainesville Fisher House, accepted $1,000 from its Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant from Jerry Sartain of Gainesville Elks Lodge #990. The donation will assist the Fisher House in a water filtration system. The Fisher House supports America’s military members in their time of need. For members of the armed forces, retirees, veterans and their families, the Fisher House program offers shelter and support during a medical crisis, including wounded service members. They offer a comforting home away from home while a loved one is receiving care in an unfamiliar environment.

Details

Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER

On Oct. 3, Holley-Navarre Elks Lodge #2787 donated $1,500 to Holley-Navarre Elementary/Primary School, which will provide more than 270 students in grades kindergarten to second grade with take-home meals. This was a very important need due to the socioeconomic status of the student population. The lodge is also working with local business leaders to create partnerships that will gain additional contributors for this program.

Pictured are Thomas (TJ) Carey, Exalted Ruler; Ben Balsavichis, principal; and Libby Blackwood, lodge club manager.

Details

Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER

On Aug. 27, Fort Walton Lodge members presented $1,200 worth of therapy items to Elizabeth Maina, Northwest District occupational therapist with Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services (FECTS). Some of the items were handmade by lodge sewing experts Jamie Clemons, Secretary, and longtime member Lily Hill. They made 14 sensory tunnels and 23 beanbags. The rest of the donation included 11 compression vests and seven weighted blankets. Maina was able to give most of the items to her patients’ families so the children in therapy can use the items throughout the week, not just during their weekly therapy visits.

Pictured are Paul Eubanks, PER; member Lily Hill; Elizabeth Maina, OTR/L; Jamie Clemons, Secretary; Kevin Clemons, PDD, Northwest District Leader and FECTS board president; and Michael “Taz” WrightReynolds, PER, Exalted Ruler.

Details

Written by Jack Upton

Deep Creek Elks Lodge #2763 hosted its second annual Tunnel to Towers (T2T) charity benefit Sept. 11. Generous donations were received from National Merchants, local businesses and individuals. Two silent auctions were held, one for a 20-person wine tasting from Total Wine & More and another for a painting created by lodge member Karen French of the T2T mirror pool memorial and observatory. Free meals were given to all active and retired first responders and military members. The event generated $2,141 in donations through food, gifts, raffles and the silent auctions. The lodge agreed to match these donations using its charity account. As an additional donation, the lodge also agreed to match the cost of the donated food, which totaled $413.45. The T2T foundation was formed after 9/11 to assist America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families and families of fallen first responders with young children and by building custom-designed smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. They are also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and aiding the victims of major U.S. disasters.

Pictured are Scott Phillips, Exalted Ruler; Jack Upton, event chair; and members Darryl Martin and Chuck Paulson preparing meals in the kitchen.

Also shown is the painting from the silent auction.

Details

Written by Pam Saracene

On Sept. 18, Sebastian Lodge’s Community Projects and Activities Committee held a complimentary event at the lodge for local families, funded by a portion of the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant. As part of its ongoing literacy and education program, the lodge opened a Little Free Library, which was installed with the Vice Mayor, Fred Jones, cutting the ribbon at its dedication. An afternoon of free fun activities, books and food was built around the dedication. There were lots of games with prizes available to all children along with temporary tattoos and bingo for kids. Elroy the Elk made an appearance, and the Sebastian Police Department’s Community Outreach “COPE” Unit attended, providing complimentary snow cones and popcorn. To promote literacy and education, the event included free books for all kids, and prizes included bookmarks, rulers, specialty erasers and activity books, to name a few. Drug awareness material was passed out as well. During bingo, when a letter was called, kids shouted out words beginning with that letter. Music was provided by one of the lodge’s ‘adopted’ veterans, who kept things lively. Approximately 100 parents and children attended. More than two dozen Elks and El Does (Ladies of Elks) assisted with this event.

Pictured are Bailey, who knocked all the cans down with one bean bag; Hailey and Chaslyn with Elroy the Elk; Lyra, matching ducks as her mom, Nelly, looks on; Fred Jones, Sebastian Vice Mayor, with Chuck Marchetti, Exalted Ruler, with the new Little Free Library; and Connie Wellman overseeing a prize booth.

Details

Written by Boca Raton Elks

Boca Raton Elks Lodge #2166 used its Elks National Foundation Beacon and Spotlight grants to purchase supplies for teachers at three schools. More than $6,000 in supplies were delivered by members.

Pictured Aug. 30 at Boca Raton Middle School are Brian Williamson; Tito Young, PER; Lisa Lee, principal; Paula Buss; and Shirley Board.

Also pictured Aug. 30 at Silver Lake Middle School are Brian Williamson; Tito Young, PER; Patty Williamson; Ian MacDonald, PER; Shirley Board; Vinny Como, PSP, Exalted Ruler; Paula Buss; Pat Maher, PDD, member and teacher; and Errol Evans, principal.

Pictured Aug. 31 at Orchard View Elementary School are teachers Jessica Robinson, Ashley Sharpe, Daniella Lanes, Samantha Estupinan (assistant principal), Nikki Christensen, Kaitlyn Morrison, Chloe Carbo and Tony Young. Members are Shirley Board; Vinny Como, PSP, Exalted Ruler; Patty Williamson; Ian MacDonald, PER; Paula Buss; and Brian Williamson.