West Central District

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Written by Rita Smith

On Sept. 18, Tampa Elks Lodge #708, led by member and camp volunteer Shannon Wheatly, used part of the lodge’s Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to host a water safety day for the campers and staff at Camp Idlewild of Florida. This is a new camp for children with special needs, particularly those on the autism spectrum. They have weeklong sessions during the summer and weekend sessions during the rest of the year. The morning began with the 16 campers receiving drug awareness information, and Paul DeLand, Exalted Ruler, giving a short speech explaining why the Elks always care. The Elks provided the camp with life jackets in child and adult sizes, safety lines with buoys and anchors, and sunblock. They also provided lifeguard supplies including hats, vests, whistles and rescue tubes. The Elks also brought in a water safety instructor from the YMCA, Hannah Davis, to teach all the campers and staff how to keep things safe in both the lake and the pool. After the lessons, all the kids jumped into the lake or the nearby individually owned swimming pool to check out the supplies. The campers spent about two hours at the waterfront before transitioning back to the main camp to get cleaned up for a barbecue which was also provided, cooked and served by the Elks. The event ended with birthday cupcakes to honor camp founder, Eileen Roach.

Pictured are campers in the lake supervised by lifeguards.

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Written by Rita Smith

The Tampa Lodge-sponsored Club Chivalry held its first club meeting of the school year Sept. 13 during seventh period in the cafeteria at Robinson High School. This school year’s club president, Andrea Ramiakhan, in consultation with the other officers, worked with Rita Smith, lodge grant coordinator, for several weeks regarding refreshments, the agenda and the team-building game supplies for the meeting. Although several lodge volunteers were ready to help during the meeting, the school did not yet allow volunteers on campus, so Smith simply dropped off the supplies purchased using the lodge’s Elks National Foundation Impact Grant. There are currently 80 students in the club, and 52 attended the first meeting. COVID illnesses and possible scheduling conflicts accounted for the missing students. However, there were still more students than there were at any meeting last year. School sponsor, Ms. Hand, said, “we really missed you and the other Elks yesterday. It is very apparent how much you all add to our meetings.”

Pictured are students working on the team-building activity and enjoying refreshments.

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Written by Diane Sharp

Largo Lodge #2159 held a drive for school supplies for two local elementary schools. Lodge members donated $881 worth of school supplies including pencils, binders, glue sticks, crayons and more. Volunteers then sorted and delivered the supplies to Mildred Helms Elementary and Ponce De Leon Elementary.

Pictured at Mildred Helms Elementary are Sandy Fitzgerald, new member; Shannon Brennan, principal; and Sarah Golden, new member.

Pictured at Ponce De Leon Elementary are Lisa Surace, school staff member; Mabel Leonowicz and Robin Najduch, new members; and Kristin Davis, school staff member.

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Written by Rita Smith

Tampa Lodge used its $2,000 Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant on pandemic relief again this year, so they again turned to Stepping Stones, a community center that serves families in real need in one of the most economically depressed areas of Tampa, Florida. Under the lead of member Christina Sanchez, the lodge made a serious impact on 40 students and their families. Each child was given a pair of name-brand shoes and some socks. Since Sanchez is involved with this community center on a regular basis and knows the children, she obtained their shoe sizes and took notes about their preferences. She and her mom, trustee Courtney Weil, PER, went shopping Aug. 1 at Westshore Mall during the tax-free week and got incredible bargains. They returned to the lodge and with the help of a few members who happened to be there, they wrapped and tagged all 40 pairs. Rita Smith, Leading Knight, was tasked with purchasing 40 small toys or gifts with $200 from charity funds. A donation from Jack Johnson brought that part of the project in under budget. On Aug. 4, Weil and her father, Whiz, did the major food shopping to fulfill the third part of the project — two full meals for each family. The food was prepared Aug. 6, the morning of the party, and then everything was loaded into five large vehicles and transported from the lodge to the community center. During the Christmas in August party later that day, a hot lasagna dinner was dished up for each family member. Additionally, each family was given a meatloaf dinner to take home and bake at another time. During the party, the students played a game and won a bag of snacks, they tried on their shoes and socks, they chose their gift from the Santa workshop table, and they picked out toiletries from the large assortment provided. A few older kids even composed a Christmas song. Tampa Elks helping at the party along with Sanchez and Weil were Rita Smith; Shelagh Gombarcik, PER; Patty Volpe, Youth Activities Lodge Chair; Whiz; and Jan Bertoch.

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Written by May Graci

On July 21, St. Petersburg Lodge donated the use of its pool to the Kind Mouse, a nonprofit that assists families and children in Pinellas County with food insecurities and chronic hunger. There were 19 attendees, mostly kids ages six to 16, with a parent chaperone. The lodge waived its fees for nonmembers to use the pool and Tiki hut, and they also donated five pizzas that they purchased from the lodge restaurant at cost. Pictured are some of the Kind Mouse parents and kids enjoying pizza and sunshine poolside.

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Written by Barbara Rodgers

While packing school supplies, members of New Port Richey Elks Lodge #2284 had an idea. Instead of handing out food, hygiene products, insect repellant and drug awareness materials in plastic store bags to those experiencing homelessness, they decided that it would be more helpful to provide somewhere to keep their belongings as well. It has been well received by the recipients and the officers of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office who distribute the backpacks. The lodge plans to make this a continuing project. Pictured July 9 are Barbara Rodgers, Exalted Ruler; Margaret Smith; Walter Weishaar Jr.; Rebecca Soto; Mikki Scamoffa and Pauline Moreno packing the supplies. Pictured at delivery are Bryan Fischer, Rebecca Soto, Barbara Rodgers and Anthony Graham.