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
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Host Luncheon at Veterans Village
- Details
- Written by JoAnn Reddy
On Aug 22, the Lakewood Ranch Sarasota Lodge Veterans Committee hosted a luncheon at Veterans Village in appreciation for service and sacrifice of veterans.
Pictured in the front are veterans Herbert Brown and George McKay. Veterans Committee servers behind the table are Tom Sweeney, Barbara Christopher, Melissa Hickey and Deb Kehoe.
Zephyrhills Elks Lodge Veterans Committee Assists Another Veteran with Home Furnishings
- Details
- Written by Ken Fabiani, PER
On Aug. 15, Army veteran John Keel moved in to his new home in Tampa with the help from the Zephyrhills Elks Lodge Veterans Committee. In addition to the furniture he received, he also received an Elks National Foundation Welcome Home kit. Lodge Veterans Chair, Ken Fabiani, PER, says, “Our homeless veterans are so overwhelmed and afraid that they are asking for too much, but we tell them to ask and if we have it, you are more than welcome to have it.”
Fort Pierce Elks Make Monthly Donations to Veterans
- Details
- Written by Fort Pierce Elks
Fort Pierce Elks Lodge #1520 made its monthly donation to Ardie R. Copas State Veterans' Nursing Home July 21. Members donated supplies valued at $468 for the home’s snack cart.
Pictured are Rod Dally, Lodge Veterans Chair; Bev Dally; and Donna Rogers, home administrator.
Also on July 21, Rod Dally delivered items valued at $426 to the West Palm Beach Veterans Services.
He is pictured with staff member Paulette Blockson.
Destin Elks Lodge Donates $3,000 to Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans Nursing Home
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On Aug. 2, Destin Elks Lodge #2688 presented a $3,000 donation to the Friends of Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans Nursing Home in Panama City.
Pictured are Ginny O’Hare, activities director, with lodge members Terri and Robert Griffin.
West Citrus Elks Lodge Hosts Local Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart
- Details
- Written by Joanne Hepner
On Aug. 5, the Veterans Committee of West Citrus Elks Lodge #2693 hosted the 14th annual Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart. Committee members served breakfast to approximately 100 honored guests. Commander Richard Hunt presented awards to Curt Ebitz for Florida State Patriot of the Year and Troy Allen for Florida State Volunteer of the Year.
Pictured are Commander Richard Hunt, Curt Ebitz and Troy Allen, members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Also pictured are lodge members Rick Jeroski, Chef Dave Virgil, Karin Nottage, Jim Ducey, Jill Jeroski, Dan Nichols, Bonnie Lee, Don Adams, Susan Adams, Charlie Mattingly and Joanne Hepner.
Veterans at Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans Nursing Home Receive Gifts from Bonita Springs-Estero Elks
- Details
- Written by Shirley Thompson
On July 21, Bonita Springs-Estero Elks Lodge #2753 hosted a Christmas-in-July dinner dance with more than 70 attendees. Throughout the month, members had donated items for veterans, including socks, shirts, sneakers, shoes, blankets, books, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, combs, pencils, pens, and two walkers, all valued at approximately $1,000.
Pictured Aug. 2 at the delivery to Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans’ Nursing Home with two seated veterans are Karen, home activities director; Rufus Morse Ellington, Exalted Ruler; Pete Thompson, Esquire; and Phil Boucher, Loyal Knight.
Tampa Elks Lodge Invites Veterans to Dinner
- Details
- Written by Rita Smith, PER
Tampa Elks Lodge #708 hosted eight veterans from the James A. Haley VA Domiciliary July 21 for a steak dinner. Members Daniel Armentrout, Evelyn Hemingway (left), Laura Jones (back right) and Debbie Brennon ensured they had everything they needed. The veterans’ meals were paid for through fundraising by the lodge Veterans Committee.
Largo Elks Deliver Items to CW Bill Young VAMC
- Details
- Written by Diane Sharp
On July 17, Largo Elks Lodge #2159 donated $700 worth of toiletries and T-shirts to the CW Bill Young VA Medical Center. The items were purchased using part of a $3,000 Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant. They will use the balance of the grant on bicycles, air mattresses and a barbecue picnic for the veterans at the hospital.
Pictured are Jeanne Reinhart, PDD; Diane Sharp, Exalted Ruler; Johnny Miller, VAVS Representative; Sandy Behm; and Bob Behm, retired LTC, Lodge Veterans Chair.
Palmetto Elks Supply Bay Pines VA Hospital with Food and More for Veterans
- Details
- Written by Lorraine Baker
Palmetto Elks Lodge #2449 used its $1,000 Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant to purchase items and food for veterans at Bay Pines VA Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. Items were delivered by Lodge Veterans Chair, David Chappel, and past chair Jim Hoey. The staff reported how happy the veterans are to receive such items.
Pictured are the items, worth $1,700, delivered July 10.
Fort Pierce Elks Restock Snack Cart at Ardie Copas Veterans Nursing Home
- Details
- Written by Fort Pierce Elks
On June 22, Rod Dally, Fort Pierce Lodge Veterans Chair, delivered supplies to refill the snack cart that the lodge donated to the Ardie Copas Veterans Nursing Home in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Accepting the donations is Kayla Bryant, nursing assistant/activities.
Port St. Lucie Donates to Treasure Coast Barbers United
- Details
- Written by Port St. Lucie Elks
On June 19, Port St. Lucie Lodge donated $1,000 to Treasure Coast Barbers United for their new young barbers program, which trains young people to become professional barbers.
Pictured are Tom Randazzo, Exalted Ruler, and Jieo Rivera and Gregory Jones, of the young barbers program who volunteer to give veterans free haircuts Wednesdays at the lodge.
Ardie R. Copas Veterans' Nursing Home Receives Snacks for Patients from Fort Pierce Elks
- Details
- Written by Ginny Young
On May 18, Fort Pierce Lodge members donated snacks for the cart at Ardie R. Copas Veterans’ Nursing Home, which serves to entice patients out of their rooms.
Pictured are Beverly and Rodney Dally, PER, Lodge Veterans Chairs, and Sherika Akers, therapy aid supervisor/activities director.