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Our Military & Veterans
Tampa Lodge uses Freedom Grant for Veterans' Dinners
- Details
- Written by Rita Smith
Tampa Elks Lodge #708 utilized the Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant to treat veterans from the domiciliary to meals and live music at the lodge on a regular basis for the last seven months. The grand finale was a surf and turf dinner held March 15. The dinner was cooked by lodge members and served by members of the lodge’s Veterans Committee. The grant is spent, but the Veterans Committee plans to take over financing opportunities for these veterans, many of whom have become friends, to continue to come enjoy the company of Elks.
Veterans from the domiciliary attend dinner March 15 at Tampa Lodge. They are pictured with Tampa Veterans Committee member, Carolyn Miller.
Deep Creek Lodge uses Beacon Grant to Treat Veterans to Baseball Game
- Details
- Written by Deep Creek Elks
Deep Creek Elks Lodge #2763 used its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to take a group of veterans from the Douglas Jacobson State Veterans Nursing Home to a preseason baseball game at Charlotte Sports Park between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Miami Marlins. Lunch and drinks were provided as well as snacks and drinks during the game. Each of them also received a souvenir from the game.
Punta Gorda Elks and Elkettes Assist Veterans at Veterans Village
- Details
- Written by Punta Gorda Elks
The Veterans Committee of Punta Gorda Elks Lodge #2606 hosts monthly luncheons for residents of the Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans Home and served dinners to 25 veterans at the Veterans Village, a transitional housing program for homeless veterans in southwest Florida.
The Punta Gorda Elkettes have created a new program called New Beginnings in which they provide an American flag-themed tote bag containing household items, cleaning supplies, toiletries and a $50 Walmart gift card to residents of the Veterans Village who will be transitioning to their own residence.
Sleighter Named Citizen of the Year by West Citrus Elks
- Details
- Written by West Citrus Elks
West Citrus Elks Lodge #2693 named Jim Sleighter Citizen of the Year in recognition of his work as founder and director of Mission in Citrus. Mission in Citrus provides help and housing to veterans who are homeless. West Citrus Elks Lodge proudly supports Sleighter’s efforts and provides as much aid to the Mission as possible through the Veterans Committee and financial contributions.
Jim Sleighter, founder and director of Mission in Citrus, receives West Citrus Lodge’s Citizen of the Year award from Brian Estus, Exalted Ruler.
Pompano Beach Lodge Donates to Bill Kling VA Center
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- Written by Pompano Beach Elks
Twelve food baskets and gift cards were delivered to the Bill Kling VA Center for the female veterans by Pompano Beach Elks Lodge members.
Hollywood West Lodge Volunteers at Re-Creation Veterans Performance
- Details
- Written by Hollywood West Elks
Hollywood West Elks Lodge members visited the Sandy Nininger Veterans Nursing Home to volunteer as Re-Creation performed for the residents. Re-Creation is a group of young adults who volunteer for a year to travel the country performing musical tributes for veterans. After the show, the lodge Veterans Committee treated the performers to a thank-you dinner.
Hollywood West Lodge continues to hold monthly flea markets for the benefit of the lodge’s Veterans Committee. They also host veterans from the Sandy Nininger Veterans Nursing Home at their monthly brunches and hold quarter auctions for their benefit.
Boca Raton Lodge Sponsors Student Veterans to Island Dolphin Care
- Details
- Written by Boca Raton Elks
Using the Elks National Foundation Freedom and Beacon grants, Boca Raton Elks Lodge #2166 sponsored two groups of young veterans from Florida Atlantic University and Palm Beach State College to go to Key Largo, Fla., to participate in dolphin therapy at Island Dolphin Care. Veterans got in the water and interacted with the dolphins on a one-on-one basis. At the end of the day, they visited the lodge for a complimentary dinner.
North District Lodges Support Veterans
- Details
- Written by Lake City & Tallahassee Elks
Lake City
Lake City Elks Lodge #893 continually supports the Lake City VA Domiciliary. Veterans from the domiciliary and the VA continue with golf on Tuesdays and bowling on the weekends.
Tallahassee
Tallahassee Elks Lodge #937 continues its support of the North Florida Veterans Stand Down. The stand down is an annual event where homeless veterans obtain free meals, haircuts and legal advice in concert with several local agencies. The lodge used the $2,000 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to provide breakfast and a $2,500 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to provide lunch and T-shirts.
Venice-Nokomis Lodge Supports Veterans
- Details
- Written by Andrice Nelson
Venice-Nokomis Elks Lodge #1854 provided lunch to 65 veterans from local assisted living facilities using funds from the Elks National Foundation Freedom and Gratitude grants. Sixty lodge members attended to help serve and entertain the troops.
The lodge also donated T-shirts, socks and personal hygiene products to the VA medical nursing facility along with 15 lap blankets made by volunteers.
Sarasota South Lodge Supports Southeastern Guide Dogs
- Details
- Written by Rose Wujcik
Sarasota South Elks Lodge #2495 hosted 72 veterans for lunch March 11. Stephanie Kern, Associate Director of Philanthropy from Southeastern Guide Dogs was present and gave a brief introduction to what they do in preparation to assigning a guide dog to those in need. Ed Burton, a 28-year Navy veteran, told the attendees how helpful his guide dog, Sammy, is to him. Burton was an engineer and did three tours in Vietnam as well as in Nicaragua, Panama, Granada and Desert Storm. Injuries received during his service caused the inflammation of his optic nerve and led to his vision loss. Sammy is his second dog from Southeastern Guide Dogs. Since he has had him, he Burton has been able to live an active life and adapting to life on a sailboat spending time with his wife boating in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. He and his wife, Betty, are thankful to the Elks for their continued support of Southeastern Guide Dogs.
Stephanie Kern from Southeastern Guide Dogs attends a veterans luncheon March 11 at Sarasota South Lodge to speak about the organization’s guide dogs. Also pictured are Richard Bouchard, Exalted Ruler, and Ed Burton, a Navy veteran with his dog, Sammy.
Zephyrhills Lodge Presents Golf Club Donation to Veterans Golf League
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- Written by Zephyrhills Elks
On Jan. 27, Ken Fabiani, Exalted Ruler of Zephyrhills Lodge, made a presentation to Ken Juhn, manager and coordinator for the Veterans Golf League in Temple Terrace, Fla., of a full set of golf clubs and a golf bag that were donated by Paul and Patsy Thornton, Elks members in Michigan. The Veterans Golf League allows veterans to play at a reduced rate for a round of golf or a reduced rate on golf apparel. They can also use the golf range at no cost for buckets of golf balls. Additionally, they also have a few single-rider golf carts for veterans who are unable to walk; the cart seat turns and tilts the veterans into a standing position and is held to the seat by a seatbelt making it possible for them to drive the ball and continue on playing the round of golf.
Zephyrhills Lodge Donates Homemade Blankets to Veterans Home
- Details
- Written by Zephyrhills Elks
On behalf of Zephyrhills Lodge, member Shirley Crawford delivered blankets to veterans at Baldomero Lopez Veterans Nursing Home Feb. 7. The Happy Hookers is a group of five women not affiliated with the Elks who volunteer to make the blankets for the veterans. Yarn is donated to them and each blanket takes about 15 hours to make. They have made 28 so far. The veterans were wide-eyed and smiling at this appreciated donation. The home administrator, Marlies Sarrett, expressed her sincerest gratitude for the donation which increases residents’ morale.