On July 12, the Tampa Lodge Veterans Services Committee hosted nine veterans from New Beginnings of Tampa for a prime rib dinner, complete with stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer and peach cobbler for dessert. One of the volunteer servers was Elks National Foundation Legacy Scholarship recipient Morgan McDaniel. The funds for the meal came from fundraising by the committee and donations from Elks. New Beginnings is a rehabilitation center currently housing 57 transitional veterans. Approximately 30% will likely return to the workforce and the rest will retire or be declared disabled. The goal is for all of them to transition to permanent housing. Many veterans arrive at New Beginnings with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They accept donations of new or gently used men’s clothing.
The veterans are pictured at the dinner table. Also pictured are veteran Michael Little and Morgan McDaniel.