Vero Beach, FL Lodge News
Lodge Fills Gifford Middle School Uniform Closet
The afternoon of our first regular lodge meeting in September, we received a letter from Dr. Chadwick Bacon, Principal of Gifford Middle School, requesting that we sponsor the purchase of items for their "uniform closet." Gifford Middle School houses a large low economical student population. With a homeless or displaced student rate of 26%, many of their students go home to houses with no electricity or running water. This was substantiated by a recent survey conducted by the TB News where the town of Gifford was revealed as the "Poorest Town in Florida."
Within hours of receiving this request from the school, our members voted to purchase $2,000 worth of clothing and hygiene items. Our members and their spouses have been out scouring Vero Beach and online stores for the best deals we could find for the items needed. The picture included here shows just some of the deliveries we've made to the school to fill their "uniform closet."
Shown below at the Lodge is Project Manager Pat Stelz, Community Activities Chairperson, and Jack, "Tex" McClurken, Exalted Ruler with much-needed clothing items including sweatshirts delivered to the school on November 2, 2023. The timing of our delivery was very fortunate as several needy students reported to the front office that were cold and had no clothes to dress warmly. The school administration reached out to us via text:
Thank you so much. My heart is full knowing that we were able to help out these kiddos today with some sweatshirts.
Just another way to show our pledge that
