News Features
P.O. Box 49
Umatilla, FL 32784-0049
Share Your Story
We'd love to see & share your Lodge & District Events!
Let's promote what our Florida Elks are doing to support your community
Preserve any person, event, or memory with a personalized brick at your Florida Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla, Florida.
Learn More
Our Military & Veterans
Holiday Isles Elks Host Pizza Party to Raise Funds for Veterans
- Details
- Written by Pattie Cloud
On Sept. 19 in honor of National POW/MIA Remembrance Day and National Pepperoni Pizza Day, Holiday Isles Elks Lodge #1912 hosted a pizza party to benefit the Bay Pines Veterans Volunteer Services Center and the West Coast Central District Veterans Fund. Members of the lodge and the community came in large numbers to support these very important services. Pizza was donated by Jim Breazeale, member and owner of DeLosa'a Pizza. There was live music from Gypsy Edge, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, and Jamie Everett played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes before a moment of silence to honor service members who never came home. The event raised $2,000, of which $1,500 was donated to the Bay Pines VA Volunteer Service Center and $500 was donated to the West Coast Central District Veterans Fund.
Pictured are Debbie Rase, House Committee chair, and Dee Mercer, House Committee member, presenting the $500 donation to John Wilson, center, chair of the West Coast Central District Veterans Fund. Also pictured is Rob Frazier receiving $1,500 in gift cards to distribute to veterans in need.
Cocoa Beach Elks Shop with Veterans for their New Homes
- Details
- Written by Susan Janes
In October, Cocoa Beach Elks joined 10 veterans on their shopping trip for their Welcome Home Kits. These veterans are transitioning into housing. The lodge provided them with more than $3,500 worth of goods and food. Pictured are Daniel, a veteran, and member Lisa Mulone.
Gainesville Elks Honor PER with Veterans' Memorial Benches at VA
- Details
- Written by Dayna Williams, PDD
In response to a final request from Gainesville Elks Lodge member Joseph Caswell, PER for people desiring to purchase flowers in his remembrance, he asked that they donate to a fund in support of the local VA Medical Center, and a significant amount was acquired. The lodge decided to purchase benches in recognition of veterans. Through the efforts of Caswell’s family and lodge members, 10 concrete benches have been donated so far to the North Florida/South Georgia VA Medical Center, with an accumulated value in excess of $5,000.
Pictured Oct. 3 in front of a bench are lodge members, family members and representatives from the VA.
West Palm Beach Elks Provide Supplies for Veterans at Stand Down House
- Details
- Written by West Palm Beach Elks
On July 11, West Palm Beach Elks delivered 46 backpacks to The Stand Down House for homeless veterans. The items were purchased with the Elks National Veterans Service Commission Freedom Grant and included personal hygiene items, disposable wipes, socks, bottled water, canned foods and more.
A contact from the Stand Down House is pictured with the backpacks.
Veteran and Son Receive Care Package from Jupiter Elks Lodge for their New Home
- Details
- Written by Jupiter Elks
On Aug. 20, Jupiter Elks delivered a care package to a local veteran and her autistic child. The package included bedding, kitchen supplies, hygiene items and food gift cards to support their transition into a new home. The items were funded by the Elks National Veterans Service Commission Focus Grant.
Warrington Elks Take Part in Homeless Veterans Stand Down
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On Sept. 26, Warrington Elks Lodge #2108 members participated in the Homeless Veterans Stand Down, held at the Brownsville Community Center in Pensacola. Twenty lodge members, six friends of the lodge and 61 students from the Pine Forest High School Navy JROTC prepared food, worked the tables, and passed out approximately 350 goody bags, which included personal hygiene products. The lodge provided hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches.
Pictured are members Tom Milne and Thomas Kelly.
Miami Elks Deliver Supplies to Modern Towers for Veteran Residents
- Details
- Written by Miami Elks
On Sept. 6, Miami Elks Lodge #948 delivered food, personal hygiene products, cleaning supplies and paper products to Modern Towers in Homestead for the veterans recently housed at the facility. The lodge used $1,050 from the Harry-Anna Trust Fund’s matching Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant and $1,400 from member donations.
Pictured are YG Nyghtstorm, Modern Towers director; Kat Poerschke, member; Ernie Johnson, first veteran housed at Modern Towers; and Sharon Weiss, member.
Green Cove Springs Elks Donate to K9s for Warriors and GCSPD Therapy Dog
- Details
- Written by gre
On Sept. 12, Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge welcomed K9s for Warriors representatives and the Green Cove Springs Police Department as dinner guests. Using a portion of the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant, the lodge presented $1,600 to K9s for Warriors to support their programs of training service dogs for veterans and $1,000 to Green Cove Springs PD for the care of their station therapy dog, Princess Leia, who was obtained through K9s for Warriors. Members learned about the therapy dogs and their support of the community and viewed a commercial starring puppy raiser Carol Thorsen-Hood and puppy Rosie.
Pictured are Officer Shawn Green; Officer Jacob Gann; Chief of Police Shaun Hines; Jennifer Parker, PER, Exalted Ruler; Brandi Acres, police dispatch supervisor; Princess Leia, GCSPD station dog; Carol Thorsen-Hood, K9s for Warriors puppy raiser; Rosie, K9s for Warriors service dog in training; and Tara Engel, K9s for Warriors grants manager.
Tallahassee Elks Lodge Continues Support of Honor Flight
- Details
- Written by Tallahassee Elks
Tallahassee Elks Lodge #937 donated $500 to the local Honor Flight program. Pictured Aug. 19 are lodge member and Honor Flight vice chair, Tom Napier, presenting an award of appreciation to PER Jeff Dorband to thank the lodge for its donation and continued support. Honor Flight provides veterans with a no-cost, one-day charter flight to Washington, D.C., where they tour national memorials in their honor.
Holiday Isles Elks Celebrate Christmas in July by Collecting Items for Veterans in Need
- Details
- Written by Pattie Cloud
From July 26 through Aug. 9, Holiday Isles Elks Lodge #1912 held Christmas in July with a collection drive for veterans, which netted over $6,000 worth of supplies. On Aug. 11, members delivered a truckload full of hygiene items, food and new clothing to the Bay Pines VA Volunteer Service Center to be given to veterans in need at no charge.
Pictured at the delivery are VA center volunteers Shanel Kelly and Bryson Boulay and members Frank and Shirly Bingham.
Rotonda Elks Provide Entertainment at Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans’ Nursing Home
- Details
- Written by Lee Hale
Lee Hale, who is the Rotonda Elks Lodge Veterans Chair and the Elks Deputy Representative to Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans’ Nursing Home, has entertained at the nursing home for over four years with his DJ business. Since June, he has provided his DJ services at the semimonthly patio parties for the home’s residents and some of their family members. A few of the residents dance to the slow music and during the fast music they move around in their seats and wheelchairs. Staff members dance and interact with the residents as well. Hale provides maracas and tambourines for the residents so they can be active and involved. The lodge’s Elks National Veterans Service Commission Freedom Grant covers the cost of the first visit’s DJ service and the VAVS account covers the second visit, which includes the DJ service and refreshments.
Pictured Aug. 28 at the patio party are Lee Hale and attendees.
Green Cove Springs Elks Donate Grant and Items to Operation Barnabas
- Details
- Written by Green Cove Springs Elks
On Aug. 8, Green Cove Springs Elks Lodge #1892 donated its $1,000 Elks National Veterans Service Commission Freedom Grant to Operation Barnabas, along with over 550 household and toiletry items donated by members and guests during the lodge's Christmas-in-July collection. This organization provides a variety of services to local veterans, including counseling, mentoring and housing assistance.
Pictured in the back row are Eddie Thompson, member; John Green, Operation Barnabas CEO; Barbara Thompson, House Committee secretary; Sally Thorsen, lodge volunteer; and Eric Thorsen, House Committee chair. In the front row are Jackson Green, Operation Barnabas communications director; Christopher Riendeau, Operation Barnabas materials coordinator and lodge member; and Richard Swain, Operation Barnabas housing coordinator.
