South Southwest District

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Written by Diane Hendrick

Fort Myers Lodge participated in the Salvation Army angel tree project for 20 local children. Members and guests took tags from the tree and purchased toys and clothes or donated monetarily to the program. In addition, the lodge purchased $1,500 worth of clothes and toys for the children. On Dec. 18, several members helped distribute the gifts to more than 3,000 angels at the Fort Myers Salvation Army warehouse.

Irma Spencer, Kay Tvrdik, Janet Helm-Adams, Kathy Lake and Diane Hendrick, pictured, loaded their carts with a family’s gifts and transferred them to the loading dock for others to load the family’s vehicle.

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Written by Judy Hopkins, PER

On Nov. 20, Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge #2781 presented the Pine Island Food Pantry with a $4,000 Beacon Grant and a $2,000 Spotlight Grant, both from the Elks National Foundation, and canned goods, which were donated by lodge members. For the fifth year in a row, the lodge secured these grants to benefit the Pine Island Food Pantry holiday program. This year’s $6,000 donation brings the past five years of cash contributions to $22,000 for the program.

Pictured in the front are Bonnie Potter, pantry director and spouse of an Elk; Marcella Betterly, widow of an Elk; Judy Hopkins, PER, Exalted Ruler; member Cheryl Combs; and Denise Selby, pantry rep. in the back row are members Bob Hoogstra, John Hotzfield and Darlene Wienefski.

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Written by Diane Hendrick

On Oct. 30, the Fort Myers #1288 Ladies of Elks presented a $500 check to Partners for Breast Cancer Care Inc. This unique organization is dedicated to funding breast screening, diagnostic testing, surgery and treatment for uninsured, women and men with low incomes in southwest Florida at no cost to them. This donation came from the Ladies of Elks Sunday bingo proceeds from October.

Pictured are Janet Darnell, executive director; Kathy Lake, Ladies President; Suzanne McHugh, Ladies Vice President; and Jessica Grau, case manager.

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Written by Jack Upton

Deep Creek Elks Lodge #2763 hosted its third annual Tunnel to Towers charity benefit Sept. 10. Since 9/11, TtoT has been helping America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. They are also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America to never forget Sept. 11, 2001. Generous donations were received from local businesses and individuals. The event included a 50/50 drawing, raffles and five silent auctions. Meals were given to all active or retired first responders and active military or veterans at no cost to them. The event raised $2,451, which the lodge agreed to match as well as the cost of the donated food. This brought the lodge’s total donation to $5,684.66, which exceeds 2022’s event.

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Written by Teresa Bird

During the FLOE conference Sept. 22-24, the Punta Gorda Elkettes were presented with several awards: sponsoring the most campers at the Florida Elks Youth Camp (15), highest amount donated to the camp ($4,785), supporting state major projects through the 365 Club with a donation of $500, contributing the most money to Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services ($5,500), and receiving second place for the Best Scrapbook.

Pictured are Lynette Dykhouse, Punta Gorda Elkettes Vice President, accepting the award for donating $500 to the 365 Club from Pauline Talbott, new FLOE President.