How you can contribute to this great place?
Reflecting on the year in Woodend Lions so far…it’s time to lend a hand.
It’s been a big time for this community group. We began the year with our annual art show ( its 50th year ) which was a blast, a gala opening night and an exciting weekend open to the community.
We’ve continued our community market parallel to the Farmer’s Market. It boomed in the warmer months and has contracted in the cold ( know the feeling). It’s still getting new and interesting stalls and fitting in with the booming attendance of the market day buzz. The warmer weather will see a resurgence.
We serve this community by raising funds with these events and donating. We just dispersed 20k to various local endeavours. We bought swags for Sunbury/Cobaw Community Health in an initiative to support folk sleeping rough. There are over 100 people homeless in the Macedon Ranges at the moment. We bought a defibrillator and first-aid kit for the community project Lifestyle Carers ( supporting 24/7 carers ) and their growing facilities in north Woodend. We support diabetes and blindless research.
We have continued offering support to the local autism network. We made another significant donation the Neighbourhood House Foodbank and supported their community lunch. Food security and gathering is important in tough times. We support St Ambrose care and the Community Chest . We’ve been able to help people in need out with firewood . We don’t want to live in a town where people are hungry or cold. We do what we can.
We give scholarships to primary and secondary school students. We assisted the Kyneton Hospital Oncology unit in buying material to offer comfort to those going through the process.
We contributed to the Lions national and international funds that is there for communities suffering …floods, fire , storms and drought. Our money is usually the first on site lending a hand . We gave to Need for Feed that supplies fodder to drought effected farmers. We like to lend a hand where it’s necessary.
Our environmental focus has been on habitat boxes of varying sizes for all manner of feathered and furry critters. We have in the past funded domestic insulation/heating audits run by MRSC. We welcome new ideas for how we can make a difference.
All this from a monthly informal chat over dinner and a shift or two in the fundraising activities. We are a small ( at this stage) group that achieves great things of which we are proud. In the face of the endless list of problems we do what we can. Lions is a not for profit, totally volunteer organisation.
This year two of our cherished longtime members down sized and moved to the coast. Good for them. All community organisations must be renewed by new folk stepping up. We are at that stage and would welcome people ready to lend a hand.
Ring 0409414435 Barry McDonald Woodend Lions
To paraphrase J.F. Kennedy ask not what this place can do for you but what you can do for this place. Community is built