West Central District

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Written by Jeanne Reinhart, PDD

On Jan. 30, Largo Elks Lodge members shopped for nonperishable food items to be delivered to Pinellas Safe Harbor, a homeless shelter in Largo run by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Using the Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant, they used $1,000 to purchase food at Sam’s Club. The lodge also holds clothing drives and couples the clothing donations with clothing purchased with the remaining $1,000 from the grant. The facility has at least 425 people, primarily men, pass through their doors every day. Members Jeanne Reinhart, PDD; Alice Wallace and Barbara Hennessey are pictured after purchasing the food. Pictured at the delivery are members Ed Cabana and Alice Wallace; Sergeant Debra Knighton; Jeanne Reinhart, PDD; and CJS Nunez.

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Written by May Graci

On Dec. 2, St. Peterburg Elks Lodge #1224 donated $250 to the Pinellas Academy of Math and Science, a charter-public school in Clearwater, Florida, in Pinellas County. The school serves 611 students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. The mission of the school is to provide students with a well-rounded elementary and middle-school education through a challenging program focused on mathematics and science using innovative, reform-based, instructional methods in a stimulating and nurturing environment that fosters maximum student achievement. The donation will be used to purchase school supplies.

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Written by May Graci

On Dec. 19, St. Petersburg Lodge’s team of volunteers spearheaded by Christmas food drive chairman, Mimi Reich, put together 300 Christmas dinner boxes valued at $11,724.40 that contained a complete Christmas dinner for a family of 4-6 members. In each box was a $20 gift card for a ham or turkey. The lodge used their $2,500 Gratitude Grant, $2,500 Beacon Grant and $2,000 Spotlight Grants from the Elks National Foundation plus lodge member donations of food and money. Toys that were donated by Florida Elks State Association and Walgreens were included in 22 of the boxes. Home Depot donated the boxes. The volunteers delivered nine boxes to Heaven on Earth for Veterans whose mission is to alleviate Pinellas County veteran homelessness by providing quality, low cost, safe living spaces. Six boxes went to families in need at Tyrone Middle School, 22 boxes went to single-parent homes with two to four kids each, and the remaining 263 boxes along with excess food went to the 38th Avenue Baptist church to be delivered through their indigent family care list.

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Written by May Graci

On Dec. 19, St. Petersburg Lodge’s team of volunteers spearheaded by Christmas food drive chairman, Mimi Reich, put together 300 Christmas dinner boxes valued at $11,724.40 that contained a complete Christmas dinner for a family of 4-6 members. In each box was a $20 gift card for a ham or turkey. The lodge used their $2,500 Gratitude Grant, $2,500 Beacon Grant and $2,000 Spotlight Grants from the Elks National Foundation plus lodge member donations of food and money. Toys that were donated by Florida Elks State Association and Walgreens were included in 22 of the boxes. Home Depot donated the boxes. The volunteers delivered nine boxes to Heaven on Earth for Veterans whose mission is to alleviate Pinellas County veteran homelessness by providing quality, low cost, safe living spaces. Six boxes went to families in need at Tyrone Middle School, 22 boxes went to single-parent homes with two to four kids each, and the remaining 263 boxes along with excess food went to the 38th Avenue Baptist church to be delivered through their indigent family care list.

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Written by Rita Smith

In late December, Tampa Elks Lodge #708 was awarded the Elks National Foundation Impact Grant for the fifth year for their program at a local high school where they sponsor an authorized school club, Club Chivalry for Successful Students. They purchased computers for the Avid classroom which is where most students come in contact with the club sponsor. The students receive T-shirts and school supplies to help them succeed. During the year they provide refreshments and Elks give motivational speeches at the eight club meetings held during the school year. Elks also chaperone and provide refreshments for field trips year-round and fully sponsor two field trips in the spring and an on-campus field trip in the fall. 

 Tampa Lodge member John Flowers speaks to Club Chivalry members about his career in sports television Nov. 18 prior to a field trip to Steinbrenner Field where the Yankees minor league team plays and the spring training field) to learn about careers in sports. 

Club Chivalry students use computers provided by Tampa Lodge’s Elks National Foundation Impact Grant.

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Written by May Graci

Thanks to the Elks National Foundation Promise Grant worth $2,500 plus lodge members donating $775 in new Christmas toys, St. Petersburg Lodge continued its tradition of serving their neighbors in need at Christmastime. With the grant and deep discounts from Walgreens, lodge volunteers went Christmas shopping for educational toys, electronic cars, soft and cuddly toys, diapers, clothing, and much more for newborns to 10-year-olds. Children ages 4-10 also received drug awareness activity books and their parents received drug awareness materials. The party was held Dec. 7 and included “elk” reindeer games, sugar cookie decorating, a balloon artist and various designs of colorful Christmas tattoos. Along with children and grandchildren of lodge members, the lodge also invited several organizations in Pinellas County that the lodge has adopted in the last few years. Attending the party were kids from the Children’s Village, MYcroSchool Pinellas, Sallie House and Westgate Elementary. Lunch was served not only to the 120 kids in attendance but also to the 130 parents and grandparents. Santa and Mrs. Claus spent time with each child and gave them specially selected toys. Receiving a gift during the holidays is a profound reminder to the children that others care for them no matter their circumstances. For the day, everyone was one large family celebrating the joys of the season.

Children’s Village is a Salvation Army program that helps families in crisis or extreme hardship situations who are having difficulties taking care of their children and also provides long-term and alternative care for children who are no longer able to live with their parents. MYcroSchool Pinellas is a tuition-free public charter high school for students ages 16-21 in St. Petersburg, Fla., who are at risk of dropping out. Attending were teenage and young adult students from the school with their toddlers. Sallie House is a safe haven for children from infants to 17 years of age who have been removed from their home because of abuse, neglect or abandonment. Westgate Elementary School in St. Petersburg serves 613 students and of those, 318 receive free lunch because of their family’s situation.