Port Shepstone Lions Club
District 410-E | South Africa
District 410-E | South Africa
On 7th June, 2017, Lions Clubs International celebrated a century of service to the needy worldwide. To commemorate this achievement, Port Shepstone Lions completed the following projects:
One centenary celebration project undertaken by the Port Shepstone Lions Club was the erection of a shelter for patients outside the Umtentweni Clinic. For some time now sick, elderly or pregnant patients have had to stand in either the hot sun or pouring rain waiting for assistance. The club decided to erect a shelter that provides protection and where they can sit and rest whilst waiting. Curnow KZN Insurance and Multicrop provided sponsorship and the club allocated an additional sum of R25 000-00 towards the project. Lion Kevin Ross/RD Civils completed the project in record time. The clinic's nursing staff and patients alike were delighted with the outcome.
To commemorate the centenary year, the Lions Club of Port Shepstone allocated R100 000-00 to South Coast Hospice. This funding was raised through the Club’s annual Lions/Illovo Sugar Golf Day and Annual South Coast Lions’ Show.
Approximately R30 000-000 of the funds was used to purchase of a Hi Lo Flex Electric Function bed with specialised mattress which prevents the formation of pressure (bed) sores. This luxury bed has all the features of a hospital bed without the hospital look and boasts an adjustable back rest, adjustable knee section, side protection bars and overhead chain support.
An ultrasound scanner to the value of R52 000-00 was also purchased and donated. Bedside ultrasound scanning in a hospice setting is a relatively new initiative. Historically, Hospice has referred patients to a hospital for ultrasound scans. Now all patients with possible ascites can be scanned prior to drainage. Bedside ultrasounds are non-invasive and well tolerated, aiding diagnosis for patients with suspected ascites, lung blockages or bladder problems.
The remainder of the funding will go towards the refurbishment of the Hospice Training Centre.
In recognition of the ongoing support provided by the Port Shepstone Lions Club, South Coast Hospice have decided to name one of their in-patient wards, the Lions Room. Members of the Port Shepstone Lions visited the Lions Room to admire the newly acquired equipment and facilities.
Port Shepstone Lions decided to allocate R20 000-00 towards gift hampers for our senior citizens. Graeme Milligan from Harbour View Superspar in Port Shepstone was contacted and agreed to deliver various grocery items to the clubhouse. He also sponsored an additional R2500-00 worth of groceries. Bargain Wholesalers also sponsored 100 tins of coffee and 100 packets of sugar. A work party was held on Saturday 3rd June 2017 where Lions and Lion Ladies packed the hampers. A letter was included in each hamper explaining the purpose of our project and informing recipients of our centenary celebration. Lions and Lion Ladies handed out the hampers at the Flower Foundation and Marburg Haven homes for the aged during the morning of 7th June 2017. Afterwards they gathered at the clubhouse to toast our Centenary with some bubbly. It was an awesome and very rewarding project for all involved - it's great to be a LION!!
June 11, 2017 was an extraordinary and very busy day. Port Shepstone Lions' resources were stretched far and wide with various projects. Although the main focus was the Knysna Disaster Relief project, we also conducted free diabetes testing, many of our members worked at the Creston College fundraiser and the previous night members ran an admin fundraiser at the South Coast Lifesavers fundraising drive. The outpouring of generosity from our local South Coast community, the tears, the laughter, the sheer determination to provide assistance to those affected was quite overwhelming. The day started with Diabetes testing where we witnessed people, from all walks of life, wealthy and not so wealthy, giving generously to our Knysna Disaster collection trolleys. At the collection point at Party Costume Hire in Umtentweni there were "mountains" of donations, plenty of tears and a community spirit that we have not witnessed for some time. Lion Ladies Jenny Vogt and Bella Gallagher were absolute STARS!! They worked tirelessly in organising their collection point, they networked with every individual that walked in to donate and they even labelled items donated. They also shed many tears of emotion with our wonderful donors. The collection point in Manaba Beach which was a combined Port Shepstone and Ramsgate Lions project was run by Port Shepstone Lion Jeff Smith and Ramsgate Lion Desiree Du Toit. They opened up their shop (C-Side Gas) to the hundreds of donors who literally filled up the shop with bags of clothing, blankets, boxes of groceries and even a microwave oven!. They too shed many tears of emotion. On Monday members gathered at the Port Shepstone Lions' clubhouse in Umtentweni, packed the large truck and trailer which transported all donations to Knysna. The amount of donations was so overwhelming that a second truck and trailer had to be arranged to transport items.
It's times like these that make me so proud not only to be a Lion but to be a South African. This project is not about Lions, it's about the sheer generosity of communities all over our country. Ordinary people who, without batting an eyelid have given generously to assist complete strangers who have lost everything. The past few days have been my most fulfilling during my term as Council Chairman. I have seen Lions from far and wide, from all over South Africa and Namibia come together to really make a difference. So many clubs set aside their planned Centenary celebration projects and focused on the Knysna disaster whilst some incorporated this relief effort into their centenary project. The fact that this all happened on the very day that Lions were celebrating 100 years of service world wide made the occasion bitter sweet but also showed me the sheer power of an organisation of volunteers determined to help those in need. I have witnessed communities rallying to support the victims and I have come to realise that there is nothing stronger than the human spirit. To all the Lions and other organisations in the Southern Cape who have given up ALL their time to receive our donations, sort them and then transport them to the affected communities, I salute you all and you are my true heroes!! Well done one and all - TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK!!
Denis Meyer
2016/2017 Chairman of the Council of Governors
Lions Multiple District 410
Southern Africa
