Southwest District

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Written by Bob Erwin

Bradenton Elks Lodge #1511 held a Christmas party for 100 local kids and their families Dec. 14 using the $2,500 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant and a matching funds grant from the Florida State Elks Association. Members also donated over $7,500 in support of the lodge’s Angel Tree project. The event was in support of Manatee Children's Services, Guardian Ad-Litem and St. Vincent DePaul Society. Pictured are Santa and his elves – Cayenne LaDere; Terry Dinius, event chairperson; Valarie LaDere; Janet Mitchell, PER; Robin Nelson and Viki Callahan.

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Written by Andrice Nelson

On Nov. 12 and Dec. 9, Venice-Nokomis Elks Lodge #1854 packed 80 food baskets for Thanksgiving dinners and 80 for Christmas dinners and were delivered to a local elementary school and dropped off to the guidance counselors to protect the privacy of the recipients in need. The lodge also provided 31 families with toys for Christmas. Again, the guidance counselors were of help providing the lodge with a list of first names and ages of children. All this was accomplished using their Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant.

Venice-Nokomis Lodge members Laura Wood, Sherie Gillum, Tom Hart, Lisa Hart, Randy Brown, Barbara Greensburg, June Appleget, Karen Lumplin, Diane Theis and Linda Eaker pack Thanksgiving dinner packages.

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Written by Brett Davis, PDD

On Nov. 8, hundreds gathered at Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 to celebrate Cocktails for a Cause. The event, benefiting the 14th annual Community Shoe Box Drive and Reception, had guest bartenders competing for tips, a holiday inspired raffle and lots of wrapped boxes ready to be filled. “We started collecting shoeboxes in 2006 to help needy seniors,” said Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee CEO, Maribeth Phillips. “Gifts of toiletries, trinkets, and small necessities will be packed in a decorated shoebox and delivered to home-bound seniors through our organization.” The event raised $1,570.

Pictured are Brett Davis, PDD; Bianca Murak and Michelle Meegan of Tidemark Financial; Kathy Martella, Meals on Wheels PLUS board member; and Andy Guz, CEO of Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.

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Written by Manasota Elks

On Nov. 2, Manasota Elks Lodge #2734 used their $2,000 Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant to support the Manatee County 2019 Stand Down held at the Manatee County Fairgrounds. This is the third year Manasota Lodge has supported this event using an Elks National Foundation grant. The lodge also takes the district drug awareness trailer and distributes red ribbons and drug awareness brochures. Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota lodges also used their Spotlight Grants to support the Stand Down. Members from these lodges handed out toiletries to the 225 registered attendees as well as to some who didn’t register. Of those registered, 120 veterans and 29 of them were homeless veterans. There were 138 attendees who accessed the health services available. Forty-two were given amnesty on legal counts against them, 11 convictions were set aside, and $23,582.37 of fines and fees were set aside.

Manasota Lodge members George Sullivan, Sue Sullivan, Sherman Patton, Marilyn Patton, Jan “Spike” Klocke, Mike Eymann (Bradenton Lodge Exalted Ruler), Ken Davis, Diane Davis, Karen Potter (Bradenton #1511), Jim Klocke and Janet VanArsdale are pictured Nov. 2 at the Manatee County 2019 Stand Down.

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Written by Rick Thorson

A week after Hurricane Dorian hit, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 teamed up with Agape Pilots, a group of volunteer pilots who ferry supplies to various islands in the Caribbean, to take supplies to the Bahamas. This effort was spearheaded by member Sarah Davis, and the response garnered such supplies as brooms, mops, buckets and paper goods.

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Written by Manasota Elks

On Sept. 18, Craig Abbott, PER of Manasota Elks Lodge #2734 presented Marie Mueller, N.U.B.S. community service co-advisor of Oneco Elementary School, the Elks distinguished citizenship award for her outstanding leadership and dedication to N.U.B.S. (Never Underestimate Brave Students), a community service group of students who volunteer their time to help their school, community and country. The lodge has been supporting the program since the 2014-2015 school year. Years ago, lodge member Pat Gallagher went to Marie Mueller with his vision and she and the students jumped right on the idea. As they were too young to join the Antlers junior Elks program, they put on their thinking caps and started their research. They soon learned that antlers start from a pair of nubs on a buck’s head. This was it – the group had a name and their amazing journey began. Their mission statement is, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Manasota Lodge supports N.U.B.S. throughout the school year. They donated vests for each member to wear during their activities, they donated to rebuild their vegetable garden, they promote the Red Ribbon poster contest, they collect and donate box tops for their playground equipment, they sponsor breakfast with Santa, they read at the school on Literacy Day, and they donated 528 pencils to their school supplies.

Craig Abbott, PER of Manasota Lodge presents Marie Mueller with a distinguished citizenship award Sept. 18. Also pictured is Pam McDowell, Exalted Ruler.