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Florida Elks News Editor:
Rachael King
 
Entire contents copyright 2023 by the
Florida State Elks Association Inc.
P.O. Box 49
Umatilla, FL 32784-0049
352-669-9443

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On Aug. 2, Destin Elks Lodge #2688 presented a $3,000 donation to the Friends of Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans Nursing Home in Panama City.

Pictured are Ginny O’Hare, activities director, with lodge members Terri and Robert Griffin.

 

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On Aug. 5, the Veterans Committee of West Citrus Elks Lodge #2693 hosted the 14th annual Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart. Committee members served breakfast to approximately 100 honored guests. Commander Richard Hunt presented awards to Curt Ebitz for Florida State Patriot of the Year and Troy Allen for Florida State Volunteer of the Year. 

Pictured are Commander Richard Hunt, Curt Ebitz and Troy Allen, members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Also pictured are lodge members Rick Jeroski, Chef Dave Virgil, Karin Nottage, Jim Ducey, Jill Jeroski, Dan Nichols, Bonnie Lee, Don Adams, Susan Adams, Charlie Mattingly and Joanne Hepner.

 

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On July 21, Bonita Springs-Estero Elks Lodge #2753 hosted a Christmas-in-July dinner dance with more than 70 attendees. Throughout the month, members had donated items for veterans, including socks, shirts, sneakers, shoes, blankets, books, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, combs, pencils, pens, and two walkers, all valued at approximately $1,000.

Pictured Aug. 2 at the delivery to Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans’ Nursing Home with two seated veterans are Karen, home activities director; Rufus Morse Ellington, Exalted Ruler; Pete Thompson, Esquire; and Phil Boucher, Loyal Knight.

 

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Tampa Elks Lodge #708 hosted eight veterans from the James A. Haley VA Domiciliary July 21 for a steak dinner. Members Daniel Armentrout, Evelyn Hemingway (left), Laura Jones (back right) and Debbie Brennon ensured they had everything they needed. The veterans’ meals were paid for through fundraising by the lodge Veterans Committee.

 

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On July 17, Largo Elks Lodge #2159 donated $700 worth of toiletries and T-shirts to the CW Bill Young VA Medical Center. The items were purchased using part of a $3,000 Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant. They will use the balance of the grant on bicycles, air mattresses and a barbecue picnic for the veterans at the hospital.

Pictured are Jeanne Reinhart, PDD; Diane Sharp, Exalted Ruler; Johnny Miller, VAVS Representative; Sandy Behm; and Bob Behm, retired LTC, Lodge Veterans Chair.

 

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Palmetto Elks Lodge #2449 used its $1,000 Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant to purchase items and food for veterans at Bay Pines VA Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. Items were delivered by Lodge Veterans Chair, David Chappel, and past chair Jim Hoey. The staff reported how happy the veterans are to receive such items.

Pictured are the items, worth $1,700, delivered July 10.

 

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On June 22, Rod Dally, Fort Pierce Lodge Veterans Chair, delivered supplies to refill the snack cart that the lodge donated to the Ardie Copas Veterans Nursing Home in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Accepting the donations is Kayla Bryant, nursing assistant/activities.

 

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On June 19, Port St. Lucie Lodge donated $1,000 to Treasure Coast Barbers United for their new young barbers program, which trains young people to become professional barbers.

Pictured are Tom Randazzo, Exalted Ruler, and Jieo Rivera and Gregory Jones, of the young barbers program who volunteer to give veterans free haircuts Wednesdays at the lodge.

 

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On May 18, Fort Pierce Lodge members donated snacks for the cart at Ardie R. Copas Veterans’ Nursing Home, which serves to entice patients out of their rooms.

Pictured are Beverly and Rodney Dally, PER, Lodge Veterans Chairs, and Sherika Akers, therapy aid supervisor/activities director.

 

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Fort Pierce Lodge made its monthly donation to the West Palm Beach Veterans Volunteer Services May 18 of requested items for veterans who are homeless.

Pictured are Rodney Dally, PER, Veterans Services Chair, and Michelle Jackson, voluntary services specialist.

 

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On May 5, Lake City Lodge’s ladies auxiliary, the Elk-Mates, hosted an Army of Hope fundraiser with more than 75 lodge and community members in attendance. More than $200 was raised for the Army of Hope. 

Pictured are Chris Samson, Exalted Ruler, and Brandy Meeks, Elk-Mates Treasurer.

 

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On May 28, the West Palm Beach Elk Riders rode their motorcycles to the South Florida National Cemetery and placed flags at all the veterans’ gravesites.