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Our Military & Veterans
Miami Lodge Donates Two Grants to Veterans Ocean Adventures
- Details
- Written by Miami Elks
On March 29, Miami Elks Lodge #948 awarded a $7,000 check to Capt. Branson Rector of Veterans Ocean Adventures. A $3,500 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant with matching grant funds from the Florida State Elks Association made the donation possible. Veterans Ocean Adventures provides veterans with disabilities the opportunity to engage in scuba diving, snorkeling, paddleboarding, kayaking and sailing while and feeling the healing power of the water. Pictured are Harold "Bill" Bang, 2021-2022 Exalted Ruler; Captain Rector; and Jeffrey Muehlfeld, PDD, 2020-2021 Exalted Ruler.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge Veterans Committee Provides Requested Items to Veterans Village
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- Written by Randy Volkart & Tom Sweeney
Pictured June 8 at Veterans Village in Bradenton, Florida, are items that were requested by the Village and purchased by Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge’s Veterans Committee. They spent $2,525 of their Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant on the items that will be used by the veterans housed there who are transitioning back into society. Items included transit bus tickets, shower curtains with hooks, beach chairs, toilet paper, cookware sets, paper towels, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent and dish detergent. The Village can accommodate 20 veterans within 10 apartment units.
Lake Placid Lodge Holds Memorial Day Ceremony
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- Written by Lake Placid Elks
On May 31, Lake Placid Elks Lodge #2661 held its Memorial Day ceremony for 75 lodge members plus community members. Three veterans shared their experiences as guest speakers, and Gail Sansoussi played each branch song on the organ. The event was well attended and showed much appreciated support of veterans.
Tampa Lodge Sponsors Canoe in Liberty Manor for Veterans Canoe Race
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- Written by Rita Smith
On May 31, Memorial Day, Liberty Manor for Veterans, a nonprofit home that houses veterans who live mostly independently under one roof, hosted a canoe race on the Hillsborough River. The canoe sponsors had the option to have a veteran be one of the canoe’s paddlers. The Tampa Lodge Veterans Committee agreed to sponsor a canoe for $500, and the lodge added $500 of its charity funds as well. Member Joe LoCicero agreed to paddle the canoe for the team, and veteran John France from Liberty Manor joined him. LoCicero is a licensed mental health counselor who owns Green Fields Mental Health Services. He was introduced to the lodge when his niece, Kendall Runyon, was a top 20 Elks National Foundation MVS scholar. She is now in graduate school. He is a faithful member of the Veterans Committee and sometimes volunteers in the kitchen. France is a Vietnam-era veteran who was determined to go to Vietnam, though that was not his first station. He was shot down toward the end of his tour and has been awarded the Bronze Star, Soldier Service award and Purple Heart. He has been diagnosed with Agent Orange-related cancer in several organs and if not for Liberty Manor, he would be without a home. The event also provided food trucks at no cost to the attendees, including salad options and Checkers French fries. Volunteers also grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. Sodas, water, snacks, nuts and cookies were also available. Though the lodge’s canoe did not win a prize, they were recognized for sponsoring the canoe.
Pictured are LoCicero and France with their canoe.
Tampa Elks Participate in Memorial Day Wreath-Laying at Cemetery
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- Written by Rita Smith
Tampa Lodge’s Past State President, Frank Palladini, has a standing arrangement to mark Memorial Day at American Legion Post 5 by inviting the current Exalted Ruler to join him in placing a wreath at the only privately owned veterans’ cemetery in the country. This year due to the pandemic, the ceremony was held a bit earlier than usual, at 10 a.m., since it was not safe to invite everybody in for a light lunch. Many other fraternities and patriotic organizations also participated in the ceremony, with approximately 35 wreaths presented. Paul DeLand, Exalted Ruler, and Rita Smith, Leading Knight, attended as well as Elks Frank Smith Sr. and Christopher Ragusa who attended in their role as district BSA leaders.
Two St. Petersburg Lodge Officers Donate Mountain Bikes to VAMC
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- Written by May Graci
On May 24, St. Petersburg Lodge Leading Knight, Sharon Literski, and Loyal Knight, Al Literski, donated two mountain bicycles for the veterans’ use at the C.W. Young Bay Pines VAMC. Frank Jones, a voluntary service specialist at Bay Pines, received the donation. The combined value of the donated bicycles was $700.
St. Petersburg Lodge Supports VAMC Women Veterans Baby Shower
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- Written by May Graci
On May 8, Bay Pines VAMC hosted a drive-thru baby shower for women veterans. St Petersburg Lodge in partnership with the American Legion Post 273 riders did a poker run and presented $2,000 to Bay Pines VAMC in addition to $1,800 worth of baby products. The riders also did a ride-through to salute, honor and support veterans welcoming babies into their families. Pictured are Johnny Miller, lodge member and Elks VAVS representative to Bay Pines, and Penny Rase, lodge member and Post 273 member.
Zephyrhills Lodge Donates Blankets, Puzzles and Painting Sets to Veterans Nursing Home
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- Written by Diane Ellison
The Zephyrhills Elks Lodge Veterans Committee with help from lodge members Don Falaas and Ken Fabiani, PER, Veterans Committee Chair, donated lap blankets, jigsaw puzzles, and paint-by-numbers sets complete with brushes, paints and canvases and were delivered to Baldomero Lopez Veterans Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes, Florida, April 9.
Fort Myers Elks Gift Gratitude Grant to Hearts & Homes for Veterans
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- Written by Diane Hendrick
Fort Myers Elks Lodge #1288 presented its $2,500 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to Hearts & Homes for Veterans Inc. in Fort Myers May 6. Hearts and Homes is a Florida nonprofit corporation created to support homeless veterans and their families who find themselves without the necessities of everyday life. The veterans are provided with transitional and permanent housing and food and support they need in finding employment as well as transportation to VA clinics and job interviews and when applying for benefits. Pictured are Dick Conley, PDD; David Lake, PSP; and Roger Spencer, PER, Exalted Ruler, presenting the check to David Santini from Hearts and Homes.
Tampa Elks Use Freedom Grant for James A. Haley VAMC Projects
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- Written by Rita Smith
Tampa Elks Lodge #708 used its $2,500 Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant to offer community support for two programs at the James A. Haley VAMC. One project is the creation of a lactation room for new mothers, and the other project is the annual Make a Difference Day, which provides gifts and comfort items to veterans being housed in licensed private homes. Usually this event is run like an angel tree, but with the VA being on COVID lockdown, they requested financial assistance only at this time. Pictured at the check presentation April 14 are Angela Reinhardt, program support; Tammy Tennace, Women’s Maternity Care coordinator; Brian Brantley, PER; Diane Meleen, Elks Deputy VAVS Representative; and Janeth Lopez, Voluntary Service specialist.
Holiday Isles Elks Collect Items for Veterans at Bay Pines VA
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- Written by Kim Debois
Holiday Isles Elks Lodge members Nick Babich, left, and Ron De Luca, right, have overseen collections and delivery of donations for veterans since September 2020. They continuously gather and deliver donations from the lodge wishing well to the Bay Pines VA. These donations are items specifically requested by the Bay Pines Veterans Outreach program. Currently needed are items for its male veterans, so during March and April, Babich and De Luca have gathered and delivered clothing items such as sweat pants and gym shorts valued at $850.
Kissimmee Elks Use Spotlight Grant to Provide Welcome Home Gifts to Veterans in New Housing
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- Written by Bob Barry, PDD
Kissimmee Elks Lodge #1873 used its $2,000 Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant to provide welcome home gifts to veterans experiencing homelessness and who have been approved for subsidized housing by the VA. Approval was obtained after interviews and examination of their fiscal and physical ability to maintain a residence. They will be given startup items to furnish their new homes. The grant plus generous donations from lodge members provided goods such as dishes, coffee pots, bedding, microwaves and bath towels. The items were delivered to the Lake Nona VA April 7.
Pictured are lodge members Janice Kirsch, Lorraine Barker, Judy Schmidt, Laurie Fabick, Exalted Ruler Theresa Hebior, Jeannie Platt, Cindy Lee, Marianne Tithof, Steve Hebior and James Platt. In the front are Karen Roper and Joe Waskelis.