Community Activities
Elks Lodge # 829 provides support to the following local organizations:
Use of our facilities to:
- Flagler College
- The St. Johns Country Veterans Service Council
- The Ancient City Chapter of the Marine Corps League
- The United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots
- St. Johns County Redevelopment Division
- St. Augustine High School Lacrosse Team
- St. Johns County Sheriff Office
Donations of Goods and Financial Contributions:
- Betty Griffin Center
- Council on Aging
- Home Again, St. Johns
- R. B. Hunt Elementary School
- St. Gerard Campus
- Saint Augustine Community Choir (SACC)
- Saint Augustine Youth Services (SAYS)
- S.A.F.E.
- Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition Food Pantry
- Wildflower Healthcare
- Various Contributions to Community Members in Need
- 10 Scholarships per year to high school graduating seniors
Flag Day – June 13, 2021
Two major events that the Lodge hosts are the Stand Down for Vets and a luncheon for the USO PAL Day. In 2020 – 2021 these events were not able to be held, due to COVID. We are happy to note that the Stand Down was held on September 11, 2021. We are looking forward to hosting a lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs for the USO PAL day the first Saturday in December, to honor and show our appreciation to service members, first responders, and their families. Volunteers are encouraged!
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Preparing for the Stand Down!
Our Public Relations Committee is chaired by Sara McDavitt and its members are Chris Love, Patty Schram, Ricki Parkes, and (photographer) Rosie Dean. They were tasked with fostering a relationship with R. B. Hunt Elementary School. The principal, Amanda Garman, requested her teachers be recognized for the difficult year that they had just experienced. The Committee provided a breakfast for the teachers, complete with coffee, bagels, donuts and a gift card.
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| Inner Guard Chris Love, Principal Amanda Garman, ER Joe Smith, Committee Chair and Chaplain, Sara McDavitt | R. B. Hunt teachers enjoying Breakfast. |
Ms. Garman also indicted a need for Accident Apparel for the children. The Community Outreach Committee (Cathy and Kevin Walsh, Elizabeth and Rich Bastedo) stepped in to adopt R. B. Hunt as one of its Non-Profits of the month. Lodge Members generously donated approximately $1300 worth of clothing.
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| Generous Contributions by Elk Members | Delivery Day! Rich Bastedo, Kevin Walsh and Chris Love |
Sara McDavitt, Kevin Walsh, Amanda Garman, Kathy Walsh, ER Joe Smith, Rich Bastedo, Elizabeth Bastedo, Patty Schram, and Chris Love
Each month the Community Outreach Committee chooses a local non-profit to ask our members to support with donations of one or two items. It is felt if we all do a little, it will add up. Minimum Lodge funds are utilized. The Committee does “deliver the goods” but they are from our Members!
April 2021 – Saint Augustine Youth Services (SAYS)
Total Donated: $630.00
ER Joe Smith, Cathy Walsh, Donna Bellamy and SAYS representative, Alex Mason
May 2021 – Saint Gerard Campus
Donated $900.00
Kevin Walsh, Joe Cinney, Director of St. Gerard Campus, Cathy Walsh, Rich Bastedo, Elizabeth Bastedo and ER Joe Smith
June 2021 – Saving Animals from Euthanasia (S.A.F.E.)
Donated $400.00
ER Joe Smith, Cathy Walsh, Kevin Walsh and Karen Bromirski, S.A.F.E. representative
July 2021 – R. B. Hunt Elementary School
Donated $1300.00
August 2021 – Wildflower Heathcare
Donated $775.00
Gratitude Grant $2000.00
Upcoming Non-Profits
Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition Food Pantry
Betty Griffin Center
Home Again, St. Johns
Clyde E. Lassen State Veterans Nursing Home
