On Oct. 13, Brandon Elks Lodge’s Veterans Chair, Robin Rutzke, representing the lodge, presented $725 worth of art supplies and $75 in Walmart gift cards to the recreation therapy services of James A. Haley Veterans Hospital. The donation was presented to Marina Leander, recreation therapist who works in the Spinal Cord Injury Center, and Kim Peatee Felt, recreation therapist who works in Short Stay Rehabilitation and Whole Health. These gifts were made possible by donations from lodge members and member fundraisers for veterans causes. The gifts will be shared by all of recreation therapy at the hospital. With the monetary donations, Rutzke purchased acrylic paints, premium paintbrushes, paint markers, watercolor essentials kits, canvas panels, colored pencils and sketchbooks. The gift cards will supplement any additional items needed. In addition, lodge member Ken Muzyk and Rutzke donated puzzles and karaoke CDs, and members donated loads of magazines. Rutzke also reached out to the Elks National Veterans Service Commission Playing Cards for Veterans program requesting playing cards for the recreation therapy, and Tom Jamison responded to Rutzke, and within a week, 75 decks of playing cards arrived, which she donated to the hospital. She works very closely with her contacts at James A. Haley Veterans Hospital to ensure the items donated meet their needs. The lodge has a long-standing partnership with this hospital, and Rutzke continues to build on this relationship, especially throughout the coronavirus pandemic to ensure veterans are not forgotten. Pictured are Marina Leander and Kim Peatee Felt with the donations.