On Oct. 23, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 held a Homes for Our Troops fundraiser at the lodge with a spaghetti dinner and talent show. More than 130 members of the lodge and the public attended and raised over $5,000. Homes for Our Troops is a publicly funded nonprofit organization that builds and donates adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 veterans to enable them to rebuild their lives. Pictured is Tom Sweeney, Lodge Veterans Chair; Michael Monthervil, a veteran recipient of a home in Florida; and Jerry Ditty, Exalted Ruler.