Lions Clubs secures US$10,000 for Paekakariki community flood relief

A local Lions’ application to the Lions Clubs International Foundation has resulted in a US$10,000 (NZ$16,700) fund being set up for the families and individuals affected by last week’s floods.

Coupled with New Zealand Lions’ contributions, Lions’ aid will exceed $20,000 for flood victims in the Paekakariki community.

The fund will be administered by the District liaising with Paekakariki and Kapiti Lions Clubs, who will provide comfort to their community by providing the basic necessities of food, clothing, blankets, kitchen supplies, bottled water, and the replacement of medical supplies – such as hearing aids, eyeglasses and prescriptions.

The funds are only made possible through the international network of Lions Clubs, of which every Lion in New Zealand is a member. Lions is the largest volunteer organisation in New Zealand and the world, with over 500 clubs and 13,000 members in New Zealand, and 1.4 million members world wide.

“Normally New Zealanders are excellent supporters of fund relief for overseas emergencies. Through the international network of Lions Clubs International, local Lions are able to bring much needed funding for emergency relief into New Zealand,” says Alice McDonald, Lions District Governor for the Wellington area.

The Lions Clubs International Foundation is the charitable arm of Lions Clubs International. Incorporated in 1968, LCIF is a public, non-profit organisation administered out of the US. Its mission is "to support the efforts of Lions clubs around the world in servicing their local communities and the world community through humanitarian service, major disaster relief and vocational assistance programmes."

The LCIF gathers its fund from Lions clubs and individual members from around the world, as well as corporations, foundations and individuals not associated with the organisation.

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