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Our Military & Veterans
Army of Hope Receives Boost from Pensacola Beach Lodge
- Details
- Written by Harriet Gossett
On Nov. 6, Pensacola Beach Elks Lodge #497 presented a check for $3,000 for the Army of Hope at the Fort Walton Elks Lodge. The Army of Hope is a program of the Florida State Elks that helps military families that need financial assistance. Pictured are board members Paul Ross and Darrell Gossett; Dan Smith, Exalted Ruler; and Kevin Clemons, PDD, District Leader. Accepting the check is State President Suzi Simonelli.
Stuart-Jensen Elks March in Veterans Day Parade with Scouts
- Details
- Written by Suzi Simonelli, PDD
Once again, Stuart-Jensen Elks Lodge members marched in the annual Stuart Veterans Day parade Nov. 11. AJ Hurd, lodge treasurer and parade coordinator, invited the lodge’s scouting units to march with them as well. This year, the lodge’s Veteran of the Year, Robert "Bob" Alphonse, Leading Knight, joined them, too. He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. Though not driving in the parade, Suzi Simonelli had the State President's van in the area, which always turns heads. Pictured are lodge members and scouts with their parade banner. Also pictured are Suzi Simonelli, State President, with Robert Alphonse.
Emory L. Bennett Veterans Nursing Home Receives Barbecue Meal from Port Orange Elks
- Details
- Written by Port Orange Elks
On Nov. 12, Port Orange Lodge members honored the veterans and staff members of Emory L. Bennett Veterans Nursing Home in Daytona Beach, Florida, by delivering approximately 170 barbecue meals. The Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant was used to finance this event, totaling $2,155.18. Pictured are Frank Kuczkowski, PER; Richard Gray; Rani Gray; Danny Mowbray, PER; Michelle Greci; Amelia Cowan, Deputy Director of the home; Gerald Peterson, Exalted Ruler and Veterans District Chair; Debi Nordgren; Gary Kilpatrick, home administrator; and Elaine Kuczkowski.
Port Orange Elks Take Part in Ponce Inlet Veterans Memorial Service
- Details
- Written by Port Orange Elks
Port Orange Elks Lodge #2723 was invited to participate in the Ponce Inlet Veterans Memorial Service Nov. 11. The lodge was instrumental in the construction of this monument 10 years ago. Picture are members Mary Edgar, Michelle Greci and Elaine Kuczkowski who represented the lodge in placing a wreath.
Cocoa Beach Elks Continue Shopping for Veterans' Welcome Home Kits
- Details
- Written by Bobbie Vance
As of Oct. 27, Cocoa Beach Elks Lodge #2387 has purchased 527 Welcome Home kits, valued at $129,448, for veterans previously without homes who are transitioning to permanent housing. The lodge partners with a Dollar General in Cocoa Beach, Florida, where Elks members take the veterans shopping. The lodge has also used Elks National Foundation Focus and Spotlight grants to provide 137 sets of furniture and 80 microwaves for veterans. Pictured after shopping for Welcome Home kits are members John Smith, Kimberly Chambers and Walter Little, all on the left, with their veteran shopping partners.
Zephyrhills Lodge Furnishes Three More Veterans' Homes, Bringing Total to 126
- Details
- Written by Diane Ellison
Zephyrhills Elks Lodge’s Veterans Committee furnished three more homes for veterans, bringing their total to 126. The happy veterans were William Cunningham, Dwayne Washington and his family, and Kathy Bell and her husband. Ken Fabiani, PER, Veterans Lodge Chair, and his helpers moved them into their homes.
Women Veterans' HER Foundation Receives Support from Warrington Elks
- Details
- Written by Warrington Elks
Warrington Elks Lodge #2108 donated its $3,500 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to the HER Foundation in September. HER stands for honor, empower and rebuild. Their motto is “recapturing our sisters' independence and providing a helping hand, love and hope to our sisters in arms.” The HER Foundation mission is to provide meals, lodging, access to medical care and job placement services for women veterans who our homeless or in danger of being homeless. HER’s focus is on homeless women veterans, both single and with families, in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Pictured are Betty Townsend, lodge treasurer; Renee Bradshaw of HER; and Toni Palmer, Northwest District Deputy.
Brandon Lodge Donates Art Supplies, Playing Cards and More to James A. Haley Veterans Hospital Patients
- Details
- Written by Brandon Elks
On Oct. 13, Brandon Elks Lodge’s Veterans Chair, Robin Rutzke, representing the lodge, presented $725 worth of art supplies and $75 in Walmart gift cards to the recreation therapy services of James A. Haley Veterans Hospital. The donation was presented to Marina Leander, recreation therapist who works in the Spinal Cord Injury Center, and Kim Peatee Felt, recreation therapist who works in Short Stay Rehabilitation and Whole Health. These gifts were made possible by donations from lodge members and member fundraisers for veterans causes. The gifts will be shared by all of recreation therapy at the hospital. With the monetary donations, Rutzke purchased acrylic paints, premium paintbrushes, paint markers, watercolor essentials kits, canvas panels, colored pencils and sketchbooks. The gift cards will supplement any additional items needed. In addition, lodge member Ken Muzyk and Rutzke donated puzzles and karaoke CDs, and members donated loads of magazines. Rutzke also reached out to the Elks National Veterans Service Commission Playing Cards for Veterans program requesting playing cards for the recreation therapy, and Tom Jamison responded to Rutzke, and within a week, 75 decks of playing cards arrived, which she donated to the hospital. She works very closely with her contacts at James A. Haley Veterans Hospital to ensure the items donated meet their needs. The lodge has a long-standing partnership with this hospital, and Rutzke continues to build on this relationship, especially throughout the coronavirus pandemic to ensure veterans are not forgotten. Pictured are Marina Leander and Kim Peatee Felt with the donations.
Punta Gorda Elks Lodge Supports Southwest Florida Honor Flight
- Details
- Written by Punta Gorda Elks
On Sept. 6, Punta Gorda Elks Lodge #2606 presented Southwest Florida Honor Flight with a $2,000 donation toward their next flight, which is scheduled for May 2022. Pictured are Marcia Bachand, lodge board member; Meredith Zinn, SWFL Honor Flight Vice President; Walter LaCombe, Exalted Ruler; Sue Paquin, SWFL Honor Flight President; and Susan DellaVilla Bower, lodge fundraising volunteer.
Tampa Lodge Supports Wreaths Across America at American Legion Veterans Cemetery
- Details
- Written by Rita Smith
On Oct. 4, Tampa Elks Lodge #708 made a $500 donation to Wreaths Across America at the only privately owned American Legion cemetery in the country — the American Legion Veterans Cemetery, which is located next to The American Legion U.S.S. Tampa Post 5. There are more than 800 graves in the cemetery, with veterans buried between 1899 and 1995. On Dec. 18 starting at 11 a.m., Post 5 will join every national cemetery in the country in placing a wreath on each soldier’s grave, at an expense of over $11,000 just at this cemetery. The public is invited to attend a brief ceremony and take part in placing a wreath on a grave. Pictured from the American Legion Cemetery Corporation are Barbara Furst, treasurer, and Alyse Duffy, 1st Vice President, receiving the check from Paula Rousselle, Loyal Knight, and Laura Jones, treasurer.
West Palm Beach Elks Make Sure Veterans Have What they Need
- Details
- Written by West Palm Beach Elks
Using a portion of its $10,000 Elks National Foundation Focus Grant, West Palm Beach Elks Lodge members joined three veterans shopping for the necessities they needed for their new apartments. Pictured in September is member Marry Sasson with Jennifer, one of the veterans. Several members made personal donations in September as well. Two veterans, Mia and Steve, were in need of televisions. Member Eric Boisse donated one to Mia, and members Aimee Cook and Brian Fearon Jr. donated one to Steve. The lodge is sometimes connected with veterans in need from Stand Down House, a veterans shelter.
Fort Myers Elks Support Hearts and Homes for Veterans Inc.
- Details
- Written by Diane Hendrick
On Sept. 23, Fort Myers Elks Lodge #1288 presented a check for $2,000 from its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to Hearts and Homes for Veterans Inc., a Florida nonprofit corporation created to support veterans and their families who are homeless who find themselves without the necessities of everyday life. Pictured are David Lake, PSP; Roger Spencer, Exalted Ruler; David Santini, director of Hearts and Homes; and Bob Weinberg, board chair.