MD201’s Kindness Matters Service Award winner announced

BY EMILY WILLIAMS

Marion City Lions Club from District C2 have taken out this year’s Kindness Matters Service Awards in MD201.

The Club’s entry, ‘Sensory Mats – Soothing the Senses for Patients in Emergency Care’, involves the creation of sensory mats for a local hospital.

These bright and beautiful mats are handmade by Lions using a variety of materials and elements – including zips, Velcro and beads – and are used to soothe agitated patients.

1300 volunteer hours are required annually to meet the Club’s target of 80 sensory mats every three months (320 per year).

The Social Work Services team at Flinders Medical Centre Emergency Department approached Marion City Lions Club with the idea in January 2020.

Since beginning the project, the Club has handcrafted more than 430 sensory mats for the Flinders Medical Centre Emergency Department.

Based on their success, the mats have now been adopted into the hospital’s best practice in caring for people with dementia or a disability.

The Kindness Matters Service Award recognises outstanding Clubs who develop creative and impactful service projects relating to one of LCIF’s cause areas; diabetes, childhood cancer, environment, hunger, vision, youth, humanitarian and disaster relief.

“This year we had 14 quality District Nominations for these awards and it was pleasing to see the increased level of interest,” said GAT Leader and Council Chairperson, Steve Boyce.

“I thank all those Clubs and Districts who participated and submitted an entry.”

Marion City Lions Club’s entry has now been sent to LCI to be considered alongside the entries of other Multiple District winners for the international component of the program.

Global winners of the Kindness Matters Service Awards will be announced in February next year.

You can keep up to date with the Club here.