On Dec. 15, Nancy Maas and Annie Stephenson, social workers with the local VA Honor Center in Gainesville, Florida, visited Gainesville Elks Lodge #990 to retrieve the lodge’s “Welcome Home” housewarming gifts for 20 veterans who are transitioning from homelessness to independent living. With the help from the state’s matching grant of the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant, the lodge provided pots and pans, dishes, silverware, linens, cleaning supplies, floor lamps, glasses, laundry baskets, trash cans, personal hygiene products and many more items to ease their burdens in the transition to independent living. With the assistance of lodge members, two vans were packed full of items for the veterans. In January, approximately 12-15 more veterans were assisted with the remaining funds of the state-matched grant. Pictured are Nancy Maas and Annie Stephenson from the VA Honor Center. Also pictured with Annie Stephenson from the Honor Center (middle) are lodge members Michael Evans, Becky Spence, Linda Califf, Margie Baumann, Julie Baker and Maryann Davis.