Lakewood Ranch Elks seek storage area for its food donation program

It is a basic feeling that has driven Andrea Hitcho during her eight years working with the Elks Feeding Empty Little Tummies program.

"Living here in a rich area, it's hard to hear that any child should be hungry," Hitcho said last week at the Elks Lakewood Ranch Lodge 2855, where she is a member. "That's sad to me. No child should be hungry, no matter the circumstances."

For the past two years Hitcho has been the executive director of the program, which continues to grow in size and scope. The program, which is a joint venture between Lodge 2855 and Bradenton Lodge 1511, now serves more than 500 children during the school year.

Those children might be hungry if not for food the Elks collect and then deliver to Manatee County schools each Friday.

Collecting the food from generous donors and delivering it has not been a problem for the Elks, who have amassed a volunteer staff of almost 50 people. However, the Elks now have a different kind of problem.

In the last few months, the Elks have lost two storage areas where they have kept the donated food.

One was the Christ Presbyterian Church on Upper Manatee River Road, which had provided space for the Elks the past five years. The church has grown and now needs its space.

The other was Tropicana, which decided it needed to rent the space it was providing for the program to someone else.

So the Elks hope to find other storage possibilities in the Lakewood Ranch or Bradenton areas.

Hitcho said about 800 square feet is needed, whether it comes in one or two sites. Besides storing the donated food, space is needed for staging as approximately 12 volunteers pack bags to bring to the schools.

The space also needs to be air conditioned to protect the donated food, which consists mostly of canned goods and non perishable items. The program, which also depends on grants, began in 2010.

The Elks also could use donations of either food or funds to buy food.

Those who might want to donate a space or want to make a donation to the program, can contact [email protected] or call Lakewood Ranch Elks Exalted Ruler Kevin Burke at 315-439-9323.

Donations also can be dropped off at the Lakewood Ranch lodge at 4602 Lena Road, Bradenton.

The program delivers to 10 schools — Freedom Elementary, Blanche H. Daughtrey Elementary School, Gene Witt Elementary, The Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch, Visible Men Academy, Ballard elementary, Just for Girls Elementary, Just for Girls Middle, Moody Elementary, and Teen Success School.

"We serve other schools as needed," Hitcho said.

Hitcho said the Elks have received much feedback from teachers at the schools that host the program.

"Kids at Freedom made cards for us," Hitcho said. "A teacher has made a donation to the Patterson Foundation for us. We get a lot of responses from teachers. They can tell when kids come to the school hungry.

EFELT is just one of the programs that the Elks do to benefit children. Others include a hoop shoot, a soccer shoot, and a summer camp.

Burke said besides helping children, such programs give parents an opportunity to learn about the benefits of being an Elk. They can then help the organization in its mission to help children.

"We want kids to have a better life," Burke said.