South Southwest District

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Written by Deep Creek Elks

On April 1, the Elks National Foundation made applications available for the Gratitude Grant for 2020-2021. This money was to be used to directly address community needs during the coronavirus pandemic. The lodge knew who to contact as their recipient – Tina Figliuola, Chief Executive Officer for the Homeless Coalition in Charlotte County, Florida. For years, they have run a program that provides a hot meal every evening for anyone who shows up. When they talked to her, the program was feeding 125 people every night. By the time the lodge was able to present her with the $2,000 grant April 8, the numbers had grown so large that they had partnered with Jesus Loves You Ministries to be able to feed all who came. Lodge members Ron Steelman and Patrick McCarthy delivered the check.

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Written by Kathleen Demetsky

On April 29, Naples Elks Lodge #2010 presented their $2,000 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to St. Matthew’s House, a charitable organization in Naples, Florida, that houses those who are homeless, provides food to those in need, and assists those who are addicted and suffering. Pictured are Paul Martella, Exalted Ruler; Van Ellison, St. Matthew’s House CEO; and Robert Cedar, lodge Elks National Foundation Fundraising chair. Earlier that month, Cedar had filed to use the grant for pandemic relief, which was honored.

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Written by North Fort Myers Elks

North Fort Myers Elks Lodge #2742 awarded $1,000 scholarships to two high school students who are family members of lodge members – Guillermo Paquian, grandson of Teresa Peel, who plans to attend Towson University in Maryland, and Brady Keough, grandson of Richard Wood, who plans to attend Michigan State University. Certificates with their names were mailed to their high schools and were to be presented to them at their awards night, but with schools being closed due to the coronavirus, a replacement certificate was mailed to them at their home address. The students were notified in April. The lodge sent a check to each university with an explanation of its intended use.

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Written by Rich Kampf

During the last two weeks in April on four occasions (April 21, 24, 28 and 30), a combination of 13 lodge officers from Cape Coral Elks Lodge #2596 spent $2,300 of their Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant on food and other necessities at several stores including Walmart, Publix, Winn-Dixie and Restaurant Depot. They then delivered the items to the Cape Coral Caring Center, a food pantry, for distribution. They also stayed to assist in handing out the food to those in need. Because of the coronavirus, the lodge members put food in trunks of cars for the recipients so there was no contact that way. The pantry weighed the food that the Elks delivered as a matrix for their inventory; the total was more than 2,800 pounds of food. The main group of shoppers each trip included Rich Kampf, Exalted Ruler; Ken Kovach, board of directors chair; Kathleen Kovach, Treasurer; Ed Broderick, Secretary; Jim Fraser, Leading Knight; and Mary Ellis, PER. Pictured in the first picture April 21 at the pantry are Julie Ferguson, Cape Coral Caring Center Director, and Rich Kampf, Kathleen Kovach, Ken Kovach and Jim Fraser. The second picture is also from April 21 and shows Rich Kampf; Patti Kampf, House Committee member; and Julie Ferguson.

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Written by Deep Creek Elks

On March 3, the Charlotte County Commissioners proclaimed March as Officer Lou Henyecz Month. Deputy First Class Lou Henyecz of the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is a member of Deep Creek Elks Lodge #2763 and assists in coordinating the lodge’s annual shopping trip to Walmart with the children from Genesis House Homeless Shelter. The lodge uses its Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to provide clothing, shoes, school supplies and backpacks. Officer Lou always enjoys interacting with the children. He works in community policing and serves on the board of The Homeless Coalition.