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Umatilla, FL 32784-0049
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Our Military & Veterans
Healing Paws for Warriors Receive Grant from Fort Walton Elks Lodge
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On Aug. 22, Fort Walton Elks Lodge #1795 presented Healing Paws for Warriors the $2,000 Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant. This nonprofit organization’s motto is “Bringing awareness to veteran suicide; reducing the numbers one service dog at a time.” Healing Paws for Warriors provides rescue-to-trained ADA-certified service dogs at no cost to combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and military sexual trauma (MST). A study by the Department of Veterans Affairs found that 22 veterans and active-duty members die by suicide every day. Healing Paws for Warriors trains rescue or shelter dogs for the veterans, potentially saving two lives in the process.
Pictured are Paul Eubanks, PER; Mike Arena of Healing Paws for Warriors and his dog, Chip; member Dusty Austin; Tom Knowles, PER; member Blake Humphries; Jamie Clemons, Lodge Secretary; and Michael “Taz” WrightReynolds, PER, Exalted Ruler.
Holley-Navarre Elks Fill Welcome Home Kits for Veterans' New Homes
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On July 28, Holley-Navarre Elks Lodge #2787 members Ben Gray, Veterans Committee Chair; TJ Carey, PER, Exalted Ruler; Charlie Mussari; and Skip Dalle Molle bought and assembled five boxes of household goods, including dishware, pots, pans and supplies necessary to initially stock a veteran’s new apartment. These home kits are part of the 2023 Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant awarded to the lodge for Project Welcome Home. This was the first half of the grant used and it cost $1,153 for these kits. Kits were given to the local Veterans Administration facility at Eglin Air Force Base for distribution to qualified veterans who are moving into HUD housing. Due to rising prices and costs, the additional five kits will be assembled and delivered at a later date and any additional costs will be covered from the lodge charity fund. Also presented in each kit is a star cut from a U.S. flag from the retirement box with the phrase, “As long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.”
Pictured are Ben Gray, Skip Dalle Molle and Charlie Mussari. Also pictured are Ben Gray, Charlie Mussari and Eric VanDerMollen, VA representative, with the kits in the background. Also shown is the star and lodge note.
Englewood Elks Continue to Support Community Veterans
- Details
- Written by Englewood Elks
Paul Colicci Jr., Englewood Elks Lodge #2378 Veterans Committee Chair, and member Joyce Sousa have been busy since the beginning of the year rounding up and delivering donations for veterans. To date, Colicci and Sousa have collected and delivered 73 crocheted blankets, 37 bags of clothing, five boxes of personal items, three boxes of kitchen items, one small appliance and a grill to the Port Charlotte Florida Homeless Coalition to assist individuals and families in need of food and shelter. They have also been collecting shoeboxes for the lodge’s adopt-a-box veterans program. The shoeboxes are all wrapped, mostly by Sousa, and are ready to be “adopted” by lodge members and friends of the Elks and filled with supplies of their choosing for veterans with items such as shampoos, conditioners, razors, soaps, lotions, socks, candies, books, magazines, cards and any small personal items the veterans might enjoy having.
Pictured by a car full of donations are Paul Colicci Jr. and Joyce Sousa. Also pictured are all the shoeboxes wrapped by Sousa.
Greater Pine Island Elks Make Veteran's Pool More Accessible for Him
- Details
- Written by Greater Pine Island Elks
On Aug. 25 using $600 from its Elks National Foundation Impact Grant, Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge #2781 purchased pool railings so 98-year-old World War II veteran Edward "Ted" Lincoln could access his pool, which he dearly loves. Mike Enke from Lee County Pools installed the railing at no cost to the lodge, and Enke has applied for lodge membership.
Pictured with Lincoln, seated, are Lodge Veterans Committee members Jack Rovaldi, PER, retired Command Sergeant Major; George Smith, PER; and John Cammick, Vietnam veteran.
South Hillsborough Donate to VA Domiciliary for Setting Up Veterans' New Homes
- Details
- Written by South Hillsborough Elks
On Sept. 9, South Hillsborough Lodge donated $3000 plus $3,000 worth of supplies necessary to set up housekeeping for veterans leaving the James A. Haley VA Hospital domiciliary for their new apartments. This donation was made possible by the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant.
Pictured are Chuck Stieb, PER, trustee; Ryan Nitzsche, recreation therapist; Janet Meyer, lodge trustee; Joyce Dominick-Schaefer, PER, lodge grant coordinator; and Dr. Marc Ruiz, director of the Tampa domiciliary.
Brooksville Elks Invite Local Veterans from Assisted Living Facility to Lodge Dinner
- Details
- Written by Brooksville Elks
On Sept. 9, Brooksville Elks Lodge began hosting monthly dinners to honor veterans in assisted living facilities. The lodge invited six veterans from Brookdale Senior Living to their dinner dance. The veterans were honored and received thanks from the lodge members for their service.
Pictured in the back row are members Scott Mackeil, Michael Hughson and Richard Griffiths. In the front row are James Marise, Army; Maria Fouch, Army; Lester Johnson, Navy; George Hartman, Army; Thomas Tschantre, Navy; and William Bennett, Army.
Viera Elks Lodge Shares Grant Funds with Veterans' Programs
- Details
- Written by Becky Wills
Viera Elks Lodge #2817 continued its support of local veterans by providing furniture to seven veterans (two in July, one in August and two in September) who are transitioning to permanent housing. The program is VOA/SSVF (Volunteers of America/Supportive Services for Veterans Families) Transitional Housing Program. The lodge used $750 of the lodge’s Elks National Foundation Focus Grant. In addition, $1,750 from the grant was donated to the VOA to assist veterans with rent and/or utility payments. Another $750 from the grant was used to purchase five twin bed mattresses for the veterans’ housing units. The lodge also purchased 15 small microwaves for $1,100 (approximately $73 each) and 30 stick vacuums for $1,100.0 (approximately $36 each) with funds from the Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant. These were also donated to the veterans’ housing units.
Recovery House of Central Florida Receives Towels and Washcloths from Sanford Elks Lodge
- Details
- Written by Cristin Rumler
On Sept. 6, Sanford Elks Lodge #1241 donated 120 towels and washcloths to Recovery House of Central Florida’s veteran case management program. This program assists and temporarily houses veterans in their journey to permanent housing.
Pictured are Dr. David Bradley, executive director of Recovery House of Central Florida, and Donald Soderblom, Lodge Veterans Chair and Vietnam veteran.
Manasota Elks Host Picnic at Veterans Village
- Details
- Written by Manasota Elks
On July 30, Manasota Elks Lodge #2734 held its annual picnic at Veterans Village in Bradenton, Florida. Lodge members prepared and donated the side dishes and the lodge’s Veterans Committee donated the funds to purchase the meat, buns and condiments for a total of 35 residents and staff members, who were very appreciative. The remaining food was left with them to enjoy later. Veterans Village is a community where Manatee GPD (Grand Per Diem program) provides clinical treatment, transitional housing and case management services to veterans experiencing homelessness. Manasota Lodge has been very active with the community for the last five years in various capacities such as picnics, holiday dinners and Welcome Home kits.
Pictured in front is Spike Klocke, lodge grant coordinator, with veterans at the buffet tables.
Tampa Elks Lodge Sponsors Wreaths at Local National Cemetery for Wreaths Across America
- Details
- Written by Rita Smith
On Aug. 30, Tampa Elks Lodge #708 donated $500 to the American Legion Post 5 Cemetery Corporation to sponsor wreaths for the Wreaths Across America program, one of the largest simultaneous events in the country. On Dec. 17 at every veterans cemetery in the United States, from well-known ones like Arlington National Cemetery to this small one with 730 graves in Tampa, Florida, a brief ceremony will be held and volunteers will place wreaths on each grave while saying the name of the deceased veteran aloud. Their mission is to spread the important message of remembering our fallen heroes, honoring those who serve, and teaching children about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families to preserve our freedoms. The funds to provide the wreaths were part of the lodge’s charity fund budget for the year.
Pictured are Debbie Brennan, Lodge Veterans Committee Chair; Bonnie O'Brien, Legion administrative assistant; Laura Jones, Lodge Treasurer; Barbara Fuerst, American Legion Cemetery Corp. Treasurer; and Alyse Duffy, American Legion Cemetery Corp. President, standing in the cemetery.
Southeastern Guide Dogs Receives Visit and Donation from Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks
- Details
- Written by JoAnn Reddy
On Aug. 31, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 donated $5,000 to Southeastern Guide Dogs to sponsor training dogs for veterans in need of a service dog. The dogs make a dramatic difference in the veterans’ lives. The funds were raised during a dinner and comedy show held at the lodge.
Tom Sweeney, Lodge Veterans Committee Chair, right, presented the check to Sean Brown and his service dog, Nick, center. Also pictured are Elks members who were given a tour of the facility.
Fort Pierce Elks Lodge Spends Summer Helping Veterans
- Details
- Written by Ginny Young
Each month, Ann Smith, Fort Pierce Elks Lodge #1520 Leading Knight, mails packages of gifts and snacks to American military members overseas. The items she sends come from lodge members and lodge funds. On special holidays, she asks members to sign cards and includes them in the packages to brighten their holiday.
Fort Pierce Lodge member Rod Dally, PER, a 53-year Elk and Purple Heart recipient, and his wife, Beverly, also a lodge member, deliver gifts, snacks, lap robes and hygiene kits every month to the VA hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the patients and veterans who are experiencing homelessness. The VA hospital recently requested some can openers, so using lodge funds and member donations, Dally purchased them and delivered them on his monthly trip. Dally also made contact with the coordinator at the new VA hospital in Tradition in St. Lucie County, where lodge members will be helping them. He anticipates lodge members going to visit with the patients and brightening their day.
Each first Wednesday of the month, Fort Pierce Lodge donates proceeds from one of its bar games to the lodge veterans account. These funds are used for projects such as the packages sent overseas for military members and items purchased for the West Palm Beach VA Hospital.
Fort Pierce Lodge members recently recorded a video for the Re-Creation video project, which will send recorded messages of thanks to veterans in veterans’ homes and hospitals nationwide.