Our Military & Veterans

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Written by Manasota Elks

Manasota Lodge provided its first Welcome Home veteran’s kit to a veteran transitioning from Manatee Veterans Village into her own apartment. The kits are a program of the Elks National Veterans Service Commission which reimburses lodges up to $300 (or up to $500 if it includes a bed). This veteran provided the lodge with her wish list which consisted of a shower liner and rings, large trash can with liners, laundry basket, desk, bookcase, accent rugs, end tables, and TV stand. Three years ago, the lodge started working with Manatee Veterans Village. Part of their program provides a transitional housing service for veterans who are experiencing homelessness. Jim Klocke, Lodge Veterans Chair, viewed the Welcome Home kit program as another excellent opportunity to assist the village residents. Pictured Feb. 18 at the kit delivery are the veteran in her new home (name unreleased by lodge) and Klocke.

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Written by Jeanne Reinhart, PDD

On March 7, members of Largo Lodge’s Veterans Committee attended the rugby tournament at Forbes Recreation Center in Pinellas Park, Florida, sponsored by the Wounded Warriors Abilities Ranch (WWAR), also located in Pinellas Park. WWAR is not a part of the nationally known Wounded Warriors Project. This tournament was open to quadriplegics. Lodge members set up and served lunches to the players and other volunteers. Approximately $500 of the lodge’s Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant was used to purchase the food. Most of the time when these veterans play in tournaments, they must purchase lunch; they were very appreciative that lunch and beverages were available to them. The balance of the grant funds were used to purchase new athletic equipment and supplies for WWAR. Pictured in the front is Mike Delancey, co-founder of WWAR. In the middle row are lodge members Bob Jump, Kathy Traina, Ed Cabana, Tina Morrison, Robert Behm and Jeanne Reinhart, PDD. In the back is lodge member Alice Wallace.

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Written by Char Fisher

On Feb. 16, Lakeland Elks Lodge #1291 donated just over $700 of drinks and accessories to the Lakeland Veteran Center, including 15 cases of soda, 10 cases of Gatorade, eight cases of water, one case of Splenda, one case of sugar, six boxes of liquid creamer cups and 10 boxes of 100-count K-Cup coffee pods. The drinks are a necessary comfort item for the veterans to use during their meetings and therapy sessions and alleviate the need for the veteran to provide their own as the center does not have a budget for these items. Pictured from Lakeland Veteran Center are Yolanda Crosby, Greg Phipps and Sherri’ Pritchett, Veterans Outreach Specialist. This gift was purchased with funds raised from the lodge’s Veterans Day dinner and silent auction fundraiser that raised more than $11,000 for veterans.

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Written by Mary Lou Scribner, PER

On Feb. 14, veterans living at Liberty Manor in Tampa, Florida, received Valentine greetings from Brandon Elks Lodge #2383. Lodge Veterans Committee chair, Robin Rutzek, delivered cupcakes and cookies, which the veterans definitely welcomed and enjoyed. She also surprised them with Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl LV championship merchandise purchased with funds from the Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant. The veterans were very excited to receive these gifts including T-shirts, adjustable caps, and commemorative souvenir Sports Illustrated and ESPN magazines. Pictured is Liberty Manor resident Art Gardener, U.S. Navy veteran, accepting some of the gifts in front of the residence.

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Written by Jeanne Reinhart, PDD

On Feb. 24, members of the Largo Elks Lodge #2159 Veterans Committee delivered their 50th Welcome Home Kit to C.W. Young VAMC (also known as Bay Pines) in St. Petersburg, Florida. These kits are provided to veterans who are moving into a new residence and are in need of household items such as linens, kitchen utensils, small appliances, dishes and personal hygiene items. This program is supported by the Elks National Veterans Service Commission (ENVSC) and will reimburse up to $300 for monies spent on kit items. Pictured are Frank Jones, Assistant Chief of Voluntary Service at Bay Pines; Georgia Greene; Janet Kingsley, Exalted Ruler; Peter Lopez, lodge member and World War II veteran; Sonja Lopez, PER; Johnny Miller, Elks VAVS Representative to Bay Pines; Nate Witt, Chief of Voluntary Service at Bay Pines; and Jeanne Reinhart, PDD, Veterans Committee Chair.

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Written by Manasota Elks

On Feb. 2, members of Manasota Elks Lodge #2734 presented 1,200 to-go meal containers with lids and 1,000 sets of kitchen gloves to Bryan Jacobs, founder of Reveille Meals and Vet2Success. These items were purchased with the lodge’s Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant. Reveille Meals is a brother company to Vets2Success, which the lodge has been partnering with for five years. Lodge members also volunteer and assist Jacobs by delivering Reveille Meals in their community. According to its Facebook page, “Reveille trains and employs veterans through our reintegration culinary programs under our nonprofit organization, Vets2Success.” Jacobs, a Marine Corps veteran, “trains veterans in the culinary arts for success in the kitchen and life.” Pictured with Jacobs are Jim Klocke, Doris Waddell, Carol Sirianni, Janice "Spike" Klocke, Ken Davis, Diane Davis, Dale Steinke and Gloria Gardner.