News Features
The Front Page - State Sponsor's Message
- President's Message
- State Secretary's Message
- Development Director's Message
- Florida Ladies of Elks President’s Message
- Children’s Therapy Services Director’s Message
- Youth Camp Director’s Message
- Our Military & Veterans
- _______________
- DISTRICT NEWS
- Central
- East Central
- North
- North Central
- Northeast
- Northwest
- South
- Southeast
- Southeast Central
- South Southeast
- South Southwest
- Southwest
- Southwest Central
- West Central
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
Aripeka Lodge Holds Car Show to Benefit Veterans Program
- Details
- Written by Aripeka Elks
On May 18, members of Aripeka Elks Lodge #2520 held a car show at the lodge with 65 show cars. The event was open to the public; over 100 people attended. More than $1,000 was raised to support the Parade of Heroes, a program in which the Florida State Elks Association participates that allows veterans to visit Washington, D.C., for three days where they are honored for their military service in defense of this country.
Zephyrhills Lodge Provides Veteran with Items for New Home
- Details
- Written by Ken Fabiani, PER
On May 15, Zephyrhills Lodge helped furnish the home of veteran John Reese (second from left) who has moved out on his own. When a veteran leaves the domiciliary, they are only provided with a place to live, so the lodge has taken on the task of collecting donations of home furnishings to help the veterans in their transition. Members Dave Crotty, PER Ken Fabiani and Tom Pete are pictured delivered the furnishings.
Holley-Navarre Elks Participate in VFW Memorial Day Ceremony
- Details
- Written by Melissa Maxey
On May 27, members of Holley-Navarre Elks Lodge #2787 participated in the annual VFW Memorial Day ceremony hosted by the Navarre VFW at Navarre Park in Navarre, Fla. Over 100 members of the public attended this annual ceremony. Every year, the lodge participates in the flag ceremony along with local Boy Scouts, Krewes and other charitable organizations. Lodge members held full-size flags during the prayer and during the honoring of our fallen heroes. Along with wreaths from the other organizations, Holley-Navarre Lodge placed a wreath at the base of the town's flag in Navarre Park.
Veterans and their Helpers Enjoy Lunch at Englewood Lodge
- Details
- Written by Estelle Dichazi
On May 17, Englewood Elks Lodge #2378 hosted a luncheon for community veterans from area nursing facilities including Gran Villa in Englewood, Fla.; Englewood Healthcare and Rehab; Heritage Oaks in Englewood, Fla.; Springs of South Biscayne in North Port, Fla; and Brookdale Rotonda Senior Living in Rotonda West, Fla. A total of 101 veterans and their helpers attended. The meal concluded with a veterans-themed sheet cake.
Zephyrhills Elks Donate Clothing to James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital
- Details
- Written by Ken Fabiani
Zephyrhills Lodge members donated clothing to James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Fla. Pictured at the delivery are Ken Fabiani, PER; Tammi Clarke, Chief of Voluntary Services; and Steve Czerneski, member.
Veteran Receives Furnishings for New Home from Zephyrhills Elks
- Details
- Written by Ken Fabiani
On May 3, members of Zephyrhills Elks Lodge #2731 donated and delivered necessities for a veteran’s new home including pots and pans, dishes, personal hygiene items, towels, sheets, lamps, a television and a television stand, a bedroom set, a recliner, and a microwave. A member also donated $100 to help him with food purchases. Pictured are Tom Pete, lodge volunteer; Joe Rowbashaw, veteran; and Ken Fabiani, PER.
Delray Beach Lodge Veterans Committee Welcomes Honor Flight Veterans Home
- Details
- Written by Patti Lydon
On May 11, 58 Vietnam veterans, 16 Korean War veterans and seven World War II veterans were welcomed home from an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., which is sponsored by the nonprofit organization Southeast Florida Honor Flight based in Stuart, Fla. These flights are four times a year and the Delray Beach Elks Lodge Veterans Committee (Chairman, Laurie Rogers, and members Phyllis Baxter, Bonnie Permenter and Patti Lydon) goes to Palm Beach International Airport to welcome home these veterans.
Zephyrhills Lodge Donates to Veterans' Hospital for Recreation Therapy
- Details
- Written by Ken Fabiani
Zephyrhills Elks Lodge #2731 presented a donation of $225 to the Chief of Recreation Therapy at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Fla. Pictured are Ron Ellison, lodge member; Geoff Hopkins, Chief of Recreation Service; and Ken Fabiani, PER.
St. Petersburg Lodge Presents Donation to PRRC
- Details
- Written by May Graci
St. Petersburg Lodge member Ed White recently chaired an event that raised $1,060 for veterans. The lodge presented $500 to the C.W. Bill Young VAMC’s Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) unit. The lodge will use $100 to purchase hats for veterans and the remaining $460 will be used to purchase and distribute canteen books for visiting veterans used at the BX or canteen at Bay Pines. The Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) was created in 1946 to provide articles of merchandise and services at reasonable prices to veterans enrolled in the VA health-care system, caregivers and visitors.
Pictured at the St. Petersburg Lodge presentation of $500 to the C.W. Bill Young VAMC’s Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) unit are Jessica D’Allesio, PRRC recreation therapist; Ed White, lodge event chairman; Johnny Miller, Deputy Representative to C.W. Bill Young VAMC; and Chrissy Agenor, PRRC program manager.
St. Petersburg Lodge Provides 500 Blankets at Veterans Stand Down
- Details
- Written by May Graci
The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System hosted a stand down for homeless veterans March 30 in the Veterans Courtyard at the C.W. Bill Young VAMC campus. Hundreds of veterans were provided with a broad range of necessities including food; clothing; medical, legal and mental health assistance; job counseling and referrals; and companionship and camaraderie. As in years past, St. Petersburg Lodge hosted a table and handed out 500 double-layered fleece blankets. The blankets were made during the course of the 2018-2019 lodge year by Kat Chaplin and other lodge members. The lodge held multiple fundraisers throughout the year and received donations from members and the lodge’s Ladies of Elks organization to purchase fleece material at a cost of $19,200.
Pictured at Bay Pines VA Healthcare System’s veterans stand down March 30 are St. Petersburg Lodge members Debbie Rase, Kat Chaplin and Cathy Sosa.
St. Petersburg Lodge Hosts PRRC Graduates
- Details
- Written by May Graci
St. Petersburg Elks Lodge #1224 donated their hall and hosted seven veterans graduating from C. W. Bill Young VAMC’s Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) program along with 75 of their relatives, friends and staff in attendance. Graduation from PRRC is a milestone and an outward demonstration of each veteran’s commitment to the recovery process as evidenced by their achievement of goals and acquisition of considerable knowledge, skills and abilities. St. Petersburg Lodge is proud to host and take part in this event twice a year.
St. Petersburg Lodge hosts PRRC graduates (back row) James Sollars, Jack Northrop, Dan MacDonald, Gail Leonard, Craig Brodeur, Juan Collazo and Joel Scully. Pictured in the front row are Chrissy Agenor, PRRC program manager, and Stacey Delong and Jessica D’Allesio, PRRC recreation therapists.
Jacksonville Elks Send Packages to Local Military Serving Overseas
- Details
- Written by Deborah McCabe Reedy
Jacksonville Elks Lodge #221 used its Elks National Foundation Anniversary Grant to help military members while lessening the burdens of government by providing useful and necessary items to military members serving in Afghanistan. They worked closely with Anne Parker, president of Blue Star Mothers of America Inc., and obtained a list of those serving overseas from northeast Florida, and with the assistance of anysoldier.com, they had a list of several units whose members requested needed items. Requested items included snacks, socks and personal items. The lodge members then purchased items using the grant and sent care packages to the units. The packages included items for 720 military personnel.
The Jacksonville Elks Veterans Committee and members prepare 17 care packages to send to Afghanistan for a Cortland County resident and his troop.