Veterans Committee Update April 2019

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Veterans Committee
As our Fiscal Elk Year comes to an end, we want to give you updates on our recent donations. We made a donation to the James A. Haley VA Hospital, specifically targeted to the homeless veterans that they serve. The immediate need was for athletic shoes, rain jackets, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bar soap and baby wipes. We donated approximately $850.00, of these items, which included 39 pairs of shoes, 13 rain jackets, 27 packs of baby wipes, 93 bars of soap, 68 toothbrushes, 64 boxes of toothpaste, 33 packs of antibacterial wipes, and 20 pairs of socks. We were also able to donate an additional 32 personal care kits from member Dan Wait’s Sandpiper community. The kits were also tailored toward the homeless veterans and included toiletries, socks, hats, and puzzle books. A special thank you to Steve Masterton, PER and John “Mac” McArthur for delivering the donations to the hospital.

We were once again able to donate to the Lakeland Veterans Center. We donated $400.00 of beverages which included: 10 cans of coffee, 40 creamers, 1 box of 2000 sugar packets, 2 boxes of Splenda, 8 cases of water and 15 cases of soda. The facility does not have a provision for this in their budget. This donation will be used by local veterans during group and individual counseling sessions and takes the burden off of the veteran to provide it.

Flight to Honor Mission #5 is scheduled for April 30th from Lakeland Linder Airport. As previously reported we have helped two of the James A. Haley Medical Foster Veterans with attending this trip. We would like to show our community that with Elks, veterans are our priority, and therefore, we would like to get a group of Elk members to go to the airport to show support at “Send Off” and “Return”. If you would be willing to do this, please let us know. We will post further details as it gets closer to the flight.

In order to continue on with our ability to support veterans in need, please join us for our next fundraising event, which will be Friday May 17th, to honor Armed Forces Day. It will be a steak dinner by the McCoy Team with karaoke by Garry and Bob and we will have raffles. Mark your calendar to come out and pay tribute to all military branches. See our flier for further details.

We would like to thank everyone who has helped make this another great year. It is because of you, the members, that we are able to make these things possible. Your support and assistance is truly appreciated.

Char and Kristen

Lodge supporting Local Veteran Facility

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Lakeland Elks 1291 Giving To Local Veteran Facility

Lakeland Elks 1291 donated 40 cans of creamer, 1 box of sugar packets, 2 boxes of Splenda, 10 cans of coffee, 8 cases of water, and 15 cases of soda to the Lakeland Veterans Center. The facility does not have a provision for this in their budget.  This donation will be used by local veterans during group and individual counseling sessions and takes the burden off of the veteran to provide it.

Veterans Committee Report (Jan 2019)

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Veterans Committee  (Previously published in the Lodge Antlers magazine.)

Happy New Year from the Veterans Committee. We kept busy in December. At the December 12th, spaghetti dinner we had 11 James A. Haley Foster Veterans and their caregivers. Once again, the committee was able to make a donation of $1,000.00 to the Outpatient Foster Care Program’s patients. Each of their 25 patients in the program received a $40.00 gift card. Dan Waite and the Sandpiper Community were also able to provide the personal care packages to each veteran that included toiletries, puzzle books, socks and a knitted cap. We have donated $650.00 to augment the cost for the April 30, 2019, “Flight to Honor” for two of the Foster Program’s WWII Veterans. We were also able to assist the Lakeland Veterans Center again with $400.00 in gift cards for the Christmas needs of their veterans who are struggling.

Our gifts and camaraderie means a lot. Here are a few exerts from Kathryn’s email regarding our donation:
“Geoff, Caroline, and Carla, our Lakeland Medical Foster Program enjoyed a wonderful home cooked spaghetti meal last night to close out our 2018 Awesome year experiencing camaraderie ‘at its finest’ at the Lakeland Elks last night. We had 14 (or so) Veterans attending with their Caregivers and family members last night. All Veterans received a box filled with miscellaneous gifts and EACH rec’d a gift card for $40.00. And those ADORABLE hand-made toboggans! So functional as well  Thanks so much to Char Fisher (pictured top left), Chair of the Veteran Committee, at the Lakeland Elks  She had spent much of her creativity, time, and talents to generate monies to assist JUST our Medical Foster Veterans, among other Veterans in the Greater Polk County Community. Our Veterans have rec’d wonderful meals all throughout the year on 2nd Wednesday nights, and when needed, special packages of gifts for specific needs have been afforded to Veterans in need. Also, the Lakeland Elks offer our Main Hospital Veterans and families and Caregivers a Wonderful picnic for over a thousand recipients in the Fall. In addition, and most recently, the Lakeland Elks have donated $650.00 to augment costs for the April 30, 2019 “Flight to Honor” for 2 of our WWII Veterans. Thanks so much to the Lakeland Elks for all the WONDERFUL generosity! The Mission to serve our US Veterans and families is truly realized with the Lakeland Elks! “

The Foster Veterans will return Wednesday February 13, 2019, so please join us for dinner
that night.

We would like to thank all of you for your help and support.

Char and Kristen