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Our Military & Veterans
Tampa Elks Lodge Supports Local Veterans' Needs
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- Written by Rita Smith, PER
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On Jan. 23, the Tampa Elks Lodge Veterans Committee invited the Salvation Army Red Shield Center to bring 10 veterans to dinner at the lodge, but their van was not available, so their social worker brought four veterans to the lodge in his car. Members surprised them with a $500 donation from the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to be used for their Veteran Service program.
Pictured are T. Michael Boyle, Exalted Ruler; Jarrod Marshall, Salvation Army social worker; Frank Palladini, PSP; Army veteran Ronald Wilcox, Navy veteran Darrick Ward, Air Force veteran Ian Jennard and Army veteran Lavonne Waffer.
Jacksonville Elks Lodge Hosts Annual Military Baby Shower
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- Written by Deborah Reedy, PER
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On Jan. 24, Jacksonville Elks Lodge #221 hosted its seventh annual military baby shower, using funds from the Elks National Foundation Spotlight and Gratitude grants. They hosted 25 military families and gave them gifts from their personal baby registries, which included bassinets, strollers, car seats and lots of baby items. They also included books, homemade burp cloths and bibs and crocheted blankets made by lodge members, blankets made by members of the Daughters of the Revolutionary War, and diapers donated by lodge members. Guests enjoyed lunch and dessert and played baby games, with prizes donated by members. Special guests included Blue Star Families of Jacksonville and Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services district occupational therapist Melanie Sarris. Both spoke about what they do for families.
Pictured are Melanie Sarris, FECTS OT, with mother Anastasia and her husband; attendees playing baby shower games; and lodge volunteers Beth Clark; Deborah Reedy, PER, event chair; Anne Paulisczak; Cheryl Kehl; Sandy Trippe; Pam Haley; and Kelly Paulson.
Cape Coral Elks Donate Bus Passes to Veterans in Need
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- Written by John Nugent
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On Jan. 21, Cape Coral Elks Lodge #2596 used its $1,000 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to purchase bus passes for veterans in need of transportation to and from their medical appointments. The voluntary assistance department of Lee County will dispense the passes to veterans in their system who are in need of assistance.
Pictured are Martin Bruner, trustee; John Nugent, Loyal Knight; Jill Acree, assistant director of Voluntary Services; Dominick Tartaglione, Exalted Ruler; Vincent Giorgi, PER; and Herbert Herring, Voluntary Services specialist.
Holiday Isles Elks Lodge Supports Repair Efforts of VFW Post 4256
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- Written by Pattie Cloud
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On Dec. 19, Holiday Isles Elks Lodge #1912 donated $5000 to VFW Post 4256 for the ongoing repairs needed from hurricanes Helene and Milton. The VFW is an important part of social activity to veterans, and as supporters of all veterans, the lodge felt that it was essential to support them and help them provide a place for veterans to go and socialize with each other, as they have since 1963.
Pictured are a VFW officer; Paula DeBlasio, Lodge Secretary; Stan Hickrod, Exalted Ruler; Dave Cain, VFW Post 4256 Commander; and three VFW officers.
Winter Garden Elks Lodge Donates Golf Proceeds to Army of Hope
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- Written by Margaret Schnichels
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On Jan. 10, Winter Garden Elks Lodge #2165 donated $8,000 to the Army of Hope from funds raised at their golf tournament.
Ron Locke, PDD, Army of Hope Fundraising Chair, accepts the check from members Cory Asperleiter, Lesley Croft, and Megan Reisch and Greg Barberio, Exalted Ruler.
Holiday Isles Elks Donate Supplies to Bay Pines VA Service Center
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- Written by Pattie Cloud
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In December, Holiday Isles Elks Lodge #1912 ran a collection drive for the veterans in need at Bay Pines VA Service Center in Madeira Beach. Donations in gifts and money to shop for what they needed were valued at $6,200 and included sleeping bags, air mattresses and warm clothing for the winter months.
Member Mike McNulty and House Committee member Sara McNulty are pictured Dec. 20 on the far right dropping off donations to two representatives at the Bay Pines VA Service Center.
Jacksonville Elks Donate Food to Five Star Veterans Center
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- Written by Deborah Reedy, PER
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Jacksonville Elks Lodge members collected 126 food items during October and November. On Dec. 4, members delivered the food, along with new, donated socks, to Five Star Veterans Center. Their chef was extremely happy to receive the food donations just before the holidays because he was able to incorporate them into recipes he creates in their full-service kitchen.
Pictured at Five Star Veterans Center are Tony Langhals, Tiler; Karen Tracy, Lodge Veteran Services Chair; chef Allen Sinclair; and a veteran resident, along with the donated food..
Veterans at Veterans Village Receive Meals from Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks
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- Written by Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks
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On Dec. 9, members of Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 held a luncheon at Veterans Village in Bradenton. Twenty veterans were fed and the food was catered by Mission BBQ and paid for from the Elks National Veterans Service Commission Focus Grant. Veterans were also able to take extra food back to their apartments for dinner.
Pictured are members Deb Kehoe and Judy Rodgers.
Veterans Village Receives New Computer from Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge
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- Written by Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks
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On Dec. 22, Tom Sweeney, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge Veterans Chair, delivered a new desktop computer and two American-made MIA/POW flags to Dawn Hawkins, veterans coordinator at Veterans Village. Veterans Village houses 24 veterans working to get back into society. The computer is available for all veterans to use. Funds were used from the Elks National Veterans Service Commission Focus Grant.
Sanford Elks Spend Afternoon Crafting and Watching a Movie with Veterans
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- Written by Cristin Rumler
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Using funds from the Elks National Veterans Service Commission Focus Grant, Sanford Elks purchased wreaths and decorating supplies to host a holiday wreath decorating event at the Lake Nona Domiciliary Dec. 16. Sixty-four veterans enjoyed lunch, a Christmas movie and wreath decorating (pictured). Donald Soderblom, Veterans Services Chair and ENVSC VAVS Representative for the Orlando VA Medical Center, and members had a great time spending the afternoon with the veteran residents.
Fort Walton Elks Take Part in Annual Wreaths Across America Event
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- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
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On Dec. 13, Fort Walton Elks Lodge #1795 participated in the Wreaths Across America event at Beal Memorial Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach. The lodge donated $3,000 to sponsor approximately 400 wreaths to the local Wreaths Across America organization. The remembrance wreaths are placed on veterans’ graves at Beal Memorial Cemetery and each veteran’s name is said aloud.
Pictured in the front are Rob Parks, PER; Mark Wynn, Loyal Knight; Michael “Taz” WrightReynolds, PER, trustee; Marcia WrightReynolds, Exalted Ruler; and Susan Henry, member. In the back row are members Dennis Henry; Janet Baxter; and Tom McLaughlin, PER, Esquire. Taz WrightReynolds is also pictured saluting his veteran father during the wreath presentation.
Naples Elks Serve Monthly Breakfast to Veterans
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- Written by Brian Kamp
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Naples Elks Lodge #2010 has been serving a hot breakfast to veterans at Gulf Coast Veterans & Friends in Naples once a month for the past year. The lodge pays a veteran-friendly diner to cook and deliver the breakfast. The lodge also pays for fresh fruit and all needed supplies. From January to April, more than 100 veterans were served each month, and for the rest of the year, approximately 80 veterans were served each month. The lodge approved $1,000 for this project.
Members pictured Dec. 13 are Brian Kamp of the Lodge Community Engagement Committee; Krystal Yoder; Greg Clifford; Nicole Yacobacci, Loyal Knight; Lisa Frey; Bob Costello, Exalted Ruler; Frank Garofalo; and Paula Keaton.