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Umatilla, FL 32784-0049
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Our Military & Veterans
Hand Sanitizer and Snack Kits Delivered to C.W. Bill Young VAMC by St. Petersburg Lodge
- Details
- Written by May Graci
A donation of 100 bottles of hand sanitizer and 100 snack kits were given to St. Petersburg Lodge by Charity Works Inc. of Clearwater, Florida, with the request that they be distributed to veterans. Charity Works has been active in numerous philanthropic activities since 1996, including fundraising events that have benefited thousands of disadvantaged and underprivileged children and adults. On Nov. 11, lodge members delivered these items to C.W. Bill Young VAMC. The snack kits contained snack bars, fruits, crackers, microwavable popcorn and more.
Tampa Lodge Members Give Gift Cards and Holiday Socks to Hospitalized Veterans upon Discharge
- Details
- Written by Diane Meleen
Tampa Lodge, using funds donated by lodge members, purchased $390 in gift cards and holiday-themed socks for veterans being discharged in December from James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Florida. The gifts were presented Dec. 3 by Diane Meleen, lodge Veterans Committee member and VAVS Deputy, to Mitra Gobin, Director of Volunteer Services at the hospital.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge Raises $5,000 for Homes for our Troops
- Details
- Written by Tom Sweeney and Randy Volkart
On Nov. 20, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855 presented $5,000 to Homes for our Troops, an organization based in Taunton, Massachusetts, that assists veterans who are disabled with housing that accommodates their needs. They have built 22 homes in Florida and more than 250 in the country. The money was raised through a lodge raffle. Pictured are John Skelton, Jim Kehoe, and Tom Sweeney, Lodge Veteran's Committee Chair.
Bradenton Elks Present Donation for Turning Points' Yellow Ribbon Program
- Details
- Written by Bob Erwin, PDD
Bradenton Elks Lodge #1511 presented its $2,000 Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant to Turning Points’ Yellow Ribbon Program which focuses on veterans in the community. The Yellow Ribbon Program is part of Turning Points’ Supportive Services for Veterans’ Families (SSVF) initiative to provide outreach services such as housing, utilities, child care and other assistance to local veterans in need. The presentation was made Nov. 14 as part of the 2020 Manatee County Stand Down. The 12th Circuit Court and their staffs were also opened this day to hear veterans’ applications for relief from minor offenses, partial or full reduction of fines, parking violations, and other outstanding issues. Pictured are Edwin Robinson, Yellow Ribbon Program Director; Mike Eymann, PER; Bill Rauh, Lodge Veterans Chair; Dave Manning, PDD, Exalted Ruler; and Kathleen Cramer, Turning Points Executive Director.
Venice-Nokomis Lodge Exalted Ruler Shares Poem and Song with Veterans
- Details
- Written by Mary Vinsh
On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 65 veterans at Venice Gardens, an assisted living facility in Venice, Florida, received a visit from Mary Vinsh, Exalted Ruler of Venice-Nokomis Elks Lodge #1854. Vinsh read a patriotic poem she wrote titled “I Wear the Red” and signed the song “God Bless the USA” in American Sign Language at the end of the event. Pictured with Vinsh is veteran Irving Lyons who was turning 100 years old the following week.
Lakeland Elks Use Freedom Grant to Assist Local Veterans
- Details
- Written by Char Fisher
Lakeland Elks Lodge #1291 used its Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant to help patients at the James A. Haley VA Hospital and veterans who are experiencing homelessness who are assisted through a hospital program. The lodge donated numerous toiletries, hygiene products and blankets as well as 46 T-shirts, 75 undershirts, 31 pairs of shoes, 37 pairs of pants, 171 pairs of underwear and 174 pairs of socks. They also provided the homeless veteran program with 50 weatherproof draw-string backpacks that were filled with a blanket, rain poncho, cleansing cloths, toothpaste, toothbrush and toothbrush holder, soap, deodorant, and socks. Members also sent signed cards and notes to the hospital for delivery to the inpatient veterans to show that Elks care and are always thinking of them. Everything was delivered to a hospital representative Oct. 16 by members Steve Masterton, PER (left) and John McArthur (right). Also pictured are members who packed the backpacks — Alice Murray; Char Fisher, Veterans Committee Chair; Vickie Crosby, member spouse; Christy Frady; and Sandy Fuschetti.
Veteran Receives Payment for Electric Bill from St. Petersburg Lodge
- Details
- Written by May Graci
On Oct. 16, a home health care nurse called a St. Petersburg Lodge member about a Vietnam veteran whose power was disconnected Oct. 10 for nonpayment. After a few phone calls that same day, Doc Cook, Exalted Ruler, went to veteran Chester Hill’s home and presented him with a $180 check from the lodge so that his electricity could be turned back on that same day. Pictured are Cook and Hill.
St. Petersburg Lodge Gives VAMC $1,500 in Gift Cards
- Details
- Written by May Graci
On Oct. 15, St. Petersburg Lodge used $1,500 from its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to help C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center. They purchased 75 $10 debit cards to be distributed to veterans to purchase items they may need from the onsite canteen/PX. Another $750 was used to purchase grocery gift cards to Walmart for the purchase of food pantry items. The VAMC uses these donated gifts for veterans staying at their various facilities in Bay Pines, Florida. Accepting the donation of cards at the lodge is Nathan Witt, Chief of VA Voluntary Service at Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, and Johnny Miller, VAVS representative and lodge member.
Veterans Receive Backpacks and Supplies from P.E.S.T. Relief International and St. Petersburg Elks
- Details
- Written by May Graci
On Oct. 6, P.E.S.T. Relief International donated 16 backpacks with hygiene kits to St. Petersburg Elks Lodge #1224. The lodge in turn donated them to C.W. Bill Young Veterans Hospital to issue to veterans who are homeless. P.E.S.T. Relief International is comprised of professionals in the pest management industry that have come together to bring comfort and relief to the veterans experiencing homelessness through safe shelter, nutrition, education, and physical and emotional health. The backpacks not only contained all the essentials for good hygiene such as soap, deodorant, shaving cream and razors, toothpaste and toothbrush, and socks, they also contained nutritional health bars and a face mask. The total value of the 16 backpacks was $800. Pictured are April Dennis Currie, VA volunteer, and Frank Jones, Assistant Chief of Voluntary Services.
Winter Park Lodge Uses Two Grants to Benefit Veterans
- Details
- Written by Dick Bardsley, PDD
Winter Park Elks Lodge #1830 planned to use the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to support a bicycle repair program for homeless veterans. However, the pandemic reduced the opportunity to get used bicycles needing repair, so instead, the Elks National Foundation staff was quite willing to approve a donation for the Fisher House in Lake Nona. The $3,500 was donated Sept. 7 for gift cards to be used by the Fisher House manager, Teresa Turner, and her assistant, Cynthia Phillips-Lewis, to buy food and other items at Publix or Target stores needed at the Fisher House. The Fisher House is a place where families of military members and veterans can stay while their family member is treated at the Orlando VA Medical Center. Fisher House is located on site. As usual, thank you letters were sent to the lodge.
On Sept. 12, Winter Park Lodge used its Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant to provide for veterans who are homeless and receive care at the Baldwin Park and Lake Nona VAMCs. The lodge used the $2,000 to buy gift cards so the veterans could obtain necessities which Adaline Sowell, director, and Fred Holmes, volunteer, purchased at Walmart and Target.
West Palm Beach Lodge Uses Grant for Veterans' Garden
- Details
- Written by West Palm Beach Elks
West Palm Beach Elks Lodge #1352 donated its $5,000 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to the garden project that members and volunteers have grown at the lodge for years to feed community veterans who are homeless and hungry. Approximately 15 to 20 members volunteer with the garden as well as Boy Scout Troop 199 and a lot of volunteers from schools that the lodge helps. Veterans know about the garden through word of mouth since the project has been in existence for years. They receive the produce by delivery; Arturo Wittman does most of the deliveries. Pictured Sept. 22 are Arturo Wittman, member; Linda Wittman, volunteer and Arturo’s sister; and Tim Hadsell, member and garden leader. He used this grant for this garden and two others.
Plant City Elks Help Liberty Manor for Veterans Receive New Driveway
- Details
- Written by Connie Lindsay
Plant City Elks Lodge members Judy Wise, Lodge and District Veterans Chair, and JD Martin, one of the lodge’s newest members, made it possible for Liberty Manor to get a new driveway in late August. The mission of Liberty Manor for Veterans Inc. is to promote the developmental and social needs of disabled and honorably discharged veterans who have fallen victim to homelessness providing transitional supported housing and establishing objectives designed to attribute to self-sufficiency. For years, the veterans living at Liberty Manor have struggled with a broken terrain for a driveway, and many veterans who are disabled have fallen. Connie Lindsay, founder of Liberty Manor, contacted Wise, and Wise shared the issue with the lodge members at a meeting. Martin is a supervisor with a contractor and volunteered to garner a donation from Old Castle Pavers, a brick and paver company in Tampa, Florida. Old Castle Pavers delivered the pavers and the job was completed by David Lindsay, Connie Lindsay’s husband, and some of the residents. Castle Coastal was so impressed with Liberty Manor that they are on board with future projects. Pictured are George Marquis of Old Castle Pavers and David Lindsay, VP of Liberty Manor for Veterans.
