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Florida Elks News Editor:
Rachael King
 
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Florida State Elks Association Inc.
P.O. Box 49
Umatilla, FL 32784-0049
352-669-9443

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2383 drive 1  2383 drive 2

Brandon Lodge members Sharon Hammersla, District Vice President; Mary Lou Scribner, PER; and Robin Rutzke, Veterans Chair, hosted their third drive-thru drop-off March 20 from 8 a.m. to noon to make it easy for lodge members to be involved and contribute to their community. Members were asked to drop off food donations and/or gift cards to local restaurants and/or grocery stores. All donated food was contributed to the local food bank sponsored by Nativity Church and all gift cards were donated during a presentation to the Captain of Brandon’s fire department, Fire Station 18. Thirty-five members and five non-Elks stopped by to make their contributions. Even out-of-town Elks (Steve Lischalk of Hopkins Lodge #2221 and Roger Bjornberg of Burlington Lodge #916) staying at the lodge’s RV park walked over to make their contributions. The drive collected 433 pounds of food that Hammersla later dropped off at the Nativity Food Bank warehouse. Scribner said she was proud of the generosity of Brandon members; 30 gift cards with a total value of $600 were donated. Rutzke shared, “There is more to this than just collecting food and gift cards for our community. It is also a much-needed opportunity for Elk members to just get out and visit as many of our members are still self-quarantined and limiting their outside exposure. With a drive-by, they can stay in their cars, we unload, and we can stand outside and just chat.” Hammersla stated that she visited with members she’s never seen before because they are members who were installed right before the pandemic hit. These newer members said they were happy to be able to do something positive for the community. Pictured are Rutzke, Lischalk, Bjornberg and Hammersla. Pictured with a vehicle full of donations and displaying gift cards are Scribner, Hammersla, and Mary Lou Schreck, Lodge Secretary.