April 2020; ISSUE NO. 7(b) - Through the Prism of Lions, Together, We Serve More - Lions District 410E
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April 2020; ISSUE NO. 7(b)
Through the Prism of Lions, 1
Together, We Serve More.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM LION CAROL BROWNW – DC HUNGER ALLEVIATION.
Congratulations to the clubs who are undertaking projects to help feed hungry families and
communities, but supplying food parcels or cooked meals.
In the short term (such as the present situation) the most important aspect of nutrition is to
maintain hydration (does everyone have enough clean drinking water) and secondly to supply
food energy(measured as kilojoules or calories.
It is not necessary to emphasise expensive protein rich foods from animal sources. The starchy
staples fill people up, and supply energy. I do not normally recommend oil (sunflower is fine), as
the seals on the bottles frequently break, but they do also add to the energy intake. Dry beans,
lentils and soya are a much better option than the tinned ones cost wise, and can be cooked in
a hay box to save cooking fuel. If you are able to include fresh produce it is fantastic. This helps
to keep a market for the products that were planted months ago, and supports the message that
this food group is always important, not an add on. Many of the nutrients needed to support
immune systems are in these foods – so they really do help to promote health as well.
I suggest that if your club is buying in bulk, and you have not already done so, register to shop
at a wholesaler; you may save as much as 20 - 30%, which means more food with the same
outlay.
Remember that there are useful guiding documents on the Hunger Alleviation tab on our district
website.
Carol Browne
DC HUNGER ALLEVIATION
The Lions Club of Centurion distributed food parcels to
needy residents in Olievenshoutsbosch.
Through the Prism of Lions,
Together, We Serve More.
2
EAST COAST LIONS SUBMITTED THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE AND PHOTOS OF SOME AMAZING PROJECTS.
Project Happy feet first came about during the The second drop off was to a group of
planning of the East Coast Lions Christmas Party indigent learners who attend Effingham
in December 2019. Instead of part taking in secret Primary School. 10 pairs of School shoes were
Santa, members were encouraged to donate a donated to these children. East Coast Lions
pair of school shoes. The East Coast Lions Club have received the most wonderful messages
then matched the number of shoes collected. of gratitude from parents who were so
appreciative of this gesture.
Thus far we have had had two drop offs. One in
January 2020. The East Coast Lions teamed up Project happy feet has identified other areas
with Love in Action and distributed school shoes where children are in need. However, with
to 22 children in the Westcliff Area. These school abruptly closing this will be on hold till
families were extremely grateful as the parents schools returns.
are unemployed and not always able to provide a
new pair of shoes for these parents
Sinakekele Outreach Program 2020 Education Programme 2020
The East Coast Lions Tuition programme runs every
On the 23rd February 2020 the East Coast Lions spent Saturday morning in on the North and South Coast
the day at Sinakekele Children based in Verulam on the Areas.
North Coast of Kwa Zulu Natal. This facility is a Tutors offer free Mathematics and Physical Science
transition home for abandoned babies and children. Tuition to Grades 11 and 12 Pupils in the area that
cannot afford private or extra tuition classes.
The East Coast Lions visit annually. They had a fun filled Tuition is held at Woodview Secondary School and
day cooking a delicious meal together playing and Wingen Heights.
singing with the children. Items in need including food Recorded numbers went up to 249 pupils from 14
clothing and toys were donated by the East Coast Lions. different schools in surrounding areas at Wingen
Heights
Woodview Secondary recorded 258 pupils for
maths and 82 pupils receiving physics tuition.
We are looking forward to getting this project up
and running again once if is safe for pupils to
attend.
WE SERVE
Through the Prism of Lions,
Together, We Serve More. 3
Covid Food Hampers
Since Covid 19 stopped us dead in our tracks and has since changed our lives forever, East Coast Lions has
been partnering with communities in desperate need for food relief. At this early stage the need is so high and will
only get worse as the months progress.
East Coast Lions has assisted the Phoenix Child and Family Welfare to purchase staple food items to assist
families in the Phoenix Area during the month of April 2020. Pictured below you can see some of the volunteers
who generously have given their time to pack food parcels and distribute in areas and families who are in need.
Diabetes Awareness Campaign
March 2020
This is the second East Coast Lions Diabetes
Awareness Campaign held in association with
the Diabetes South Africa. A nurse was
provided by the association and a testing area
was set up on Durban’s beach front. The
community was offered free testing as well as
information to take up and health snacks
(apples). 100 community members were tested
on the 7th March 2020. The East Coast Lions
Club would like to run this campaign twice a
year and assist with the annual Diabetes Walk
held later in the year.
PROJECT 36 was launched on the 7th April 2020 in celebration of the 36th birthday of the Lions Club of
Wilro Park and in answer to desperate calls for help at this difficult time of the Covid 19 Crisis. The biggest need
of course was for Emergency Food Parcels and so we immediately got to work – Lions Pieter and Niqula Kruger
convened the project and a team of Lions packed and delivered food parcels, always adhering to the safety
measures and permit restrictions in place. A flyer was created explaining the project and giving Snapscan and
Banking details and with the help of the whole Club almost R20 000 was raised and a lovely donation of Chicken
was received enough for each food parcel. Bags of mielie meel and other grocery items went to feeding larger
groups of people. We provided 82 Family Food Parcels and 32 smaller food parcels for 359 people to date. We
also managed to make 150 washable fabric facemasks and included them in the parcels or as part of our Random
Acts of Kindness. Some families were in need of warm clothes, jerseys and blankets and we managed to meet those
needs at very short notice. We are very grateful to all our families, neighbours and friends of Lions who so
generously helped us to make a difference and to our Neighbourhood Watch, Councillors and Absolute Security
for their assistance!
Please note: Safety measures and social distancing guidelines were adhered to except for the purpose of the
photographs – masks were worn at all times and gloves were used whilst working with the food – hand sanitizer
was on hand at all times and our premises were sanitised before we begun. The relevant Permits and Official
Letters were also obtained.
Through the Prism of Lions
Together, We Serve More. 4
Alberton Lions continued to contribute to hunger relief efforts throughout the Lockdown in April, together with members
of the Help Forum who to plan and provide every day food parcels or hot food to hungry families in JHB South. These
include Elize from the Happy Hearts foundation who provides 55 people every day with a hot meal, and the Feeding Project
situated in La Rochelle, who parcel and distribute donated food packs daily to, on average, some 100 people.
Lions Clr Tiaan Kotze Abie Lubbe, Jim Wilson, Sandy King, John Welman, Marc du Plooy,and LP Tammy delivered food
parcels to many charitable groups in the South, including the tireless Antoinette, who delivers on average 50 food parcels
daily to families and the elderly in the community. The Lions Citizen of the year in 2019 was awarded to Antoinette, in
recognition of her selfless dedication towards feeding the hungry in her community. Partner in Service Errol donated 2500
packets of crisps, and these were given to other members of the Help Forum for distribution. Alberton Lions are proud to
say that they are reaching some 400 families a day, as part of the network of organisations who comprise the Alberton Help
Forum.
Roodepoort Host Lions;
We help the Rainbow Village in Roodepoort by taking cake, cool drinks and gifts for the residents who are
celebrating their birthdays. We do this on a monthly basis, so those whose birthdays fall in that month will receive
a gift, and the party is for all. There are 12 children ranging from 1 to 119 years of age, and 5 care givers who are
all included.
On the 7th April, Lion Hester van Vuuren took the goodies to the home. Unfortunately, due to the lockdown, she
was on her own, so there are no photos.
PRETORIA SOUTH LIONS CLUB; Our Mamelodi based Lions were very
hard at work providing 4000 meals in a single day. This is a sad reflection
of the dire situation out there during the global pandemic that hit us all. It’s
difficult to comprehend the level of desperation. These folks literally live
from hand to mouth and the interruption caused by the Lockdown has been
devastating. We will continue this project on a weekly basis to keep people
fed until they can once again provide for themselves. Our club has started
its own COVID-19 FEEDING SCHEME in order to continue helping
individuals in dire need of food.
Through the Prism of Lions,
Together, We Serve More.
5
MD 410 GLOBAL SERVICE TEAM
HUNGER IS A PROBLEM WITHOUT BORDERS
THANK YOU TO OUR CLUBS who are supporting the many people who are currently not earning any form of income which
obviously culminates in not being able to purchase food to feed themselves and their families.
It is wonderful to see the number of Clubs in MD410 who are partnering with various institutions, organisations and
churches, making financial donations or preparing food at home and having it collected by authorised (duly permitted
organisations) for distribution.
One of the most pleasing factors is that Lions, Rotary, Round Table and other Community based organisations are
collaborating and working together for a common purpose.
From information received, the latest figures are astounding, as to date:
• ±325 000 x Food Parcels have been packed and distributed.
• ±10 500 x Ready made meals have been prepared and served.
• ±70 x Soup Kitchens being provided with ingredients to make their daily supply of soup.
This conservatively equates to approximately ZAR 4 million thus far.
St. Croix Lions Club; We are a club of 2 members and a few volunteers, we thought we would let you see a couple a
projects we did during lockdown, and we have 4 + planned for this upcoming weekend J
5/4/2020; We assisted Concerned Citizens Of PE Metro at the Jarman Hall Shelter. We provided lunch and essentials
needed and want to thank all our sponsors. We had a briefing session with the councillor, and in the week coming another
shelter will be established in West End
9/4/2020; We delivered 3 pots of vegetable soup, bread, jam, instant porridges, soap, toothpaste and facecloths to the
Walmer Townhall Shelter. Thank you to the sponsors, and Annalien Bushby, (Miss SA Junior Finalist) and Anna
Schoultz for donating and cooking the soup. Without our kind-hearted sponsors these donations would not be possible.
There are currently 80 homeless people at the shelter, and we urgently need the following items: Soup ingredients,
vegetables, fruit, milk, sugar, instant porridges, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, jam, butter, peanut butter.
25/4/2020; Over the last couple of days we have delivered food, soup, bread and essentials to Walmer Townhall Shelter,
Jerusalem Ministries and Cuyler Homes, and a shelter in District 7 and we have also been handing out more food, clothing
and essential parcels to those in need, including Place of Hope Greenbushes.
We also decided to also thank our essential workers for what they are doing in these trying times.
Through the Prism of Lions,
Together, We Serve More. 6
Alberton Lions with some of their food
donations ; Report on page 4.
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1
2
HELDERKRUIN LIONS CLUB;
1) We made a food donation to the Transvaal Boeremaatskappy while they
were collecting at Makro in StrubensValley
2) After receiving a call from a distressed resident in Krugersdorp, we
3 presented the father with a PicknPay voucher.
3) Some musician friends held a benefit “lounge concert” for a gentleman who
has an 8 year old son who was born with Hemophaelia, which means his
blood does not Clot. This could mean a small bruise or cut could turn into a
life-threatening situation. He has to have an infusion 3 times a week which
costs the Med Aid R50 000 a month. After listening to the concert (which
made enough money for 1 month’s med aid subscription), we investigated
further, only to find that the Dad, who had a small business, has lost
everything through the Virus situation. We donated a PicknPay voucher to
ease his immediate problem of feeding his son.
Through the Prism of Lions,
Together, We Serve More
7
(Ed’s Note;) Re Cyber Clubs; With reference to the article below, please remember that with the members
being so widely spread, they often have to do projects either on their own or in conjunction with other
NPO’s. In this case, Lion Christine did this project on her own but she often works with a Church group
and the Company for whom she works. She is a Charter member of Clearwater Cyber Club who moved to
Darling at a later stage.
Clearwater Cyber Lions; “ Our contribution to Sinethemba staff members, health care organization in the
Swartland, who had to adapt to Covid screening and testing and distributing the clinics' medicines in
order to discourage patients visiting the clinics for minor reasons. My daughter and I packed food
Contribution from Lion Christine, a member of parcels of appreciation, donated by my Company, Slimsun.
for the 57 staff members. For my personal contribution we added a small bag of rusks as well as 1 packet
of the meal mix suggested by DG Alistair, for each staff member to use or give it to a family in need - as
they very often do. The parcels were received with great appreciation - they do amazing work usually, but
now even more on the frontline, for a small salary. I bought the meal ingredients at PnP, added half a
cube of beef stock. It worked out @ R5,40 per packet. I also cooked a small batch to know what I was
giving out, and I wasn't disappointed, I gave it with a happy ❤️”
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During the 5 week lock down, Region Chair Patrick Mills provided some entertainment
on Facebook by playing a different saxophone tune every day, sometimes
accompanied by his wife Lion Bernice. It certainly lifted the spirits of many Lions and
friends during this harshest of lockdowns. RC Patrick would be happy (subject to
availability) to come and play at your club function or service project when the world
returns to normality. Why? Because kindness matters, especially in days like these.
As they say in the Classics;
“That’s all for now, Folks!”
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