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Umatilla, FL 32784-0049
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Our Military & Veterans
West Palm Beach Elks Receive Quilts of Valor
- Details
- Written by West Palm Beach Elks
West Palm Beach Elks Lodge #1352 recently hosted Quilts of Valor. A local quilting guild, Quilts by the Sea, awarded 16 veterans, including three members of the lodge – ER Ed Morey, PER Herb Loreti and Bob Josefsberg – Quilts of Valor, comforting and healing quilts to cover service members and veterans touched by war. The lodge also hosted blind veterans from the West Palm Beach Veterans Administration Medical Center for karaoke.
Jupiter Lodge Supports Veterans and is Rewarded in Return
- Details
- Written by Jupiter Elks
Jupiter Elks have been working tirelessly with Home Depot employee volunteers to fix up the lodge building with new interior and exterior paint, new baseboards, chair railing, and ceiling tiles all made possible through a $19,700 grant from the Home Depot Foundation for the work that the Elks do for veterans. Jupiter has also sent dozens of handwritten letters to military personnel in Syria along with gift cards, and they continue to serve dinners to veterans, their families and caregivers every quarter at the Renewal Coalition, a local nonprofit that assists wounded service members and their families in their transition from military to civilian life or back to active duty.
Pompano Beach Lodge Donates Handmade Blankets for Veterans
- Details
- Written by Pompano Beach Elks
Pompano Beach Lodge donated crocheted lap blankets to veterans. Pictured are Pompano Beach member Elise Ochipa, PER Marty Truss and SSE VP Frank Sellers.
Winter Garden Elks Provide Lunch to VA Veterans, Family and Staff
- Details
- Written by Winter Garden Elks
Winter Garden Elks Lodge #2165 used the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to serve 100 veterans, family and staff a barbecue lunch at the VA center. The lodge gave them all t-shirts that say, “Winter Garden Elks Love our Vets.” They also gave out goodie bags with various items and provided karaoke for them.
Plant City Elks Support Navy Veteran
- Details
- Written by Martin Carroll
On Jan. 13, Matthew Smith, a single father and U.S. Navy veteran, was involved in a motorcycle accident. While attempting to make a left turn, the driver of the vehicle behind him failed to properly maintain control of his vehicle, striking Smith from behind and totaling his bike. Over the last seven months, he has endured four neck surgeries, a knee surgery, and many physical therapy sessions and doctor’s appointments. Due to the demand of his treatment, he has been unable to provide for his daughter, Shayla, and his son, Braiden. The battle still continues for the next few months and there is a real need for help and support for a man who has fallen on hard times due to circumstances beyond his control.
On Sunday, Sept. 2, a fundraiser on his behalf was held at the Strawberry Patch in Plant City. Elks Ron Johns, Kenny Goodwien and Mark Edelman attended the event and presented him with a $500 check from Plant City Lodge. An additional $1,100 was donated out of their pockets for a 50/50 raffle and auction. Ron Johns won the 50/50 raffle and donated his proceeds back to Smith. Donations will be used to handle monthly expenses (rent, bills, food), medical supplies that are not otherwise provided, fuel for trips to and from doctor's appointments, and physical therapy.
Pictured at the Matthew Smith fundraiser are Mark Edelman, Kenny Goodwien, Ed Lefler (Strawberry Patch owner), Matthew Smith and Ron Johns.
Gainesville Lodge Assists Veterans to New Housing
- Details
- Written by Linda Califf
On July 17, Gainesville Elks Lodge #990 hosted 40 veterans who were transitioning from homelessness into their own residences. The lodge used the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant paired with the 150th Anniversary Grant and state matching funds to purchase all needed items for the veterans to set up their homes. Purchases ranged from cleaning supplies to pots and pans, dishes, towels, blankets, and a wide variety of household and kitchen appliances. Veterans and their HUDVASH social workers were invited for lunch and veterans were given “play money” to purchase the items they needed. This will be a continuing project for Gainesville Lodge as the number of homeless veterans in the area is increasing.
West Citrus Lodge Veterans Committee Replaces Flag at Crystal Gem
- Details
- Written by West Citrus Elks
On Saturday, Sept. 22, the West Citrus Lodge Veterans Committee donated an American flag to Crystal Gem Manor Assisted Living Facility. Many of the residents gathered outside to watch the Elks take down the faded and tattered old flag and replace it with a bright new one. As the new flag was raised, they all joined in with the Pledge of Allegiance. Many residents were excited and thanked the committee members.
West Citrus Lodge Veterans Committee members Jack McKowen, Jack Stewart and Bill Dennington replace Crystal Gem’s old flag with a new one.
Tampa Elks Help Make Veteran's Apartment a Home
- Details
- Written by Courtney Weil
Angel is an Army veteran who needed a little help getting her new apartment ready in time for her child’s arrival from D.C. Tampa Elks were able to come through for her in a big way. First were the bags of items and the microwave that Angel chose from the lodge’s free thrift store for the domiciliary veterans. Then there were school clothes provided by several members. Towels, linens, accessories such as purses, some energy-efficient light bulbs, and a few month’s supply of sanitary products also found their way to her doorstep. She also received the extra school supplies from the lodge’s children’s party. When it was time to go shopping, Angel knew what her biggest remaining need was – a television for her 17-year-old’s bedroom. She also picked up some laundry supplies, paper goods and even a few candles.
The Elks’ Welcome Home program of the Elks National Veterans Service Commission is really making a difference to some previously homeless veterans in the Tampa community.
St. Petersburg Elks Donate Use of Lodge for PRRC Graduation
- Details
- Written by May Graci
On Tuesday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg Lodge donated the use of its hall to Bay Pines VA Healthcare System to hold their Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) graduation program. Two veterans graduated from the program while 54 guests watched in the audience. There were 46 veterans and a staff member present from Bay Pines VAHS for this special occasion along with seven Elks who attended this event to witness the achievements of these two graduates. PPRC assists veterans who have significant functional impairment such as PTSD and other persistent mental illnesses with developing the skills needed to be successful in living, working, learning or socializing in the community once they are out of the military. Their recovery will be an ongoing journey.
Punta Gorda Holds Dance to Benefit Parade of Heroes Veteran Attendees
- Details
- Written by Joann Sutton
Punta Gorda Elks Lodge held a country and western dance Sunday, Sept. 17, to raise funds to support the Parade of Heroes. Each year for Veterans Day weekend, the lodge sends veterans to Washington, D.C. This year, plans are to send five former service members, including two World War II veterans, for three days. The dance raised $3,712.57.
West Citrus Lodge Designated as a Purple Heart Lodge
- Details
- Written by Brian Estus
Each year, West Citrus Elks Lodge #2693 hosts a breakfast for the Arron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart. This year, the lodge was proclaimed a Purple Heart lodge. Designation as a Purple Heart entity is reserved for organizations that have exhibited noteworthy patriotic support of our nation's armed forces, its veterans and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Presenting the Purple Heart lodge proclamation and plaque to West Citrus Lodge are Cmdr. Richard Allen (left) and Sergeant at Arms, Rick Allen (right). Accepting the proclamation and plaque are Jean Buck-Newhouse and Joann Hepner, co-chairmen of the Veterans Committee; and Brian Estus, Exalted Ruler.
Sebring Lodge Holds Canoe Race to Benefit Folds of Honor
- Details
- Written by Sebring Elks
New member Lisa Celentano arranged the dirty dozen canoe race held at Sebring Lodge’s water’s edge Saturday, Sept. 1. The lodge made money on parking and pulled pork sandwiches. Setup was in full swing by 7:30 a.m. with the first of three races starting at 10 a.m. Lodge members volunteered with parking, cooking, working in the dining room, setup and cleanup, and the ROTC from Sebring High School helped with setup and parking. Vendors attended the event as well, and there was a tent that displayed Elks information. Music was provided by a DJ and the national anthem was sung as PER George Quel presented the flag. Approximately 90 canoeists, both new and experienced, participated. Proceeds were given to Folds of Honor, an organization that provides educational scholarships to the children and spouses of fallen and disabled servicemembers while serving our nation.