BY EMILY WILLIAMS

The Lions Club of Valentine refer to themselves as ‘the Club with the big heart” and it couldn’t be more true. At our recent Mini Convention in Melbourne, the Club was awarded the Top Club Service Project for their ongoing commitment to supporting their local community.

Stemming from a partnership with a local not-for-profit, Valentine Lions Club has directly helped over 2250 people in the community since 2021.

The Club has joined forces with Survivors R Us, a local organisation that directly supports those experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and unemployment.

Amidst yet another Covid-19 outbreak in 2021, Lions banded together to care for their community and support its vulnerable members, whilst lifting the profile of Lions and their commitment to serving others.

“The members of the Lions Club of Valentine have been super enthusiastic about our involvement with this project. It has invigorated our Club and given it a real focus during the second year of the Covid pandemic,” said Vice President Dawn Lambert.

Valentine Lions cooking a weekly breakfast at Survivors R Us

Each week since July 2021, Lions have cooked a hot, hearty breakfast available to anyone who needs it. But the Club’s support of the community extends well beyond the weekly breakfast.

With the help of grants from the NSW Government totalling over $32,000, Valentine Lions Club has put together 195 food hampers, 195 Christmas hampers, 405 toy packs, 152 ‘Back to School’ backpacks, and 576 dignity care packs for people of all ages. All of these were distributed to disadvantaged members of their local community, in partnership with Survivors R Us.

In addition to accumulating over 900 hours of work on this project, the Club nominated Survivors R Us as the sole beneficiary of the $6,000 raised during their annual Christmas raffle to assist with their continuing work.

Valentine Lions presenting Maria Martin, founder of Survivors R Us, with the proceeds from their Christmas raffle

Valentine Lions Club’s ‘Caring for the Community’ project is ongoing and continues to uplift those in their community. Yet again proving that where there’s a need, there’s a Lion.

To learn more about Valentine Lions Club’s ongoing project, click here.