What an eventful start to the year! We started 2020 with bushfires and now we have Covid-19 (Coronavirus).
As a result of Covid-19, The Lions Club of the City of Adelaide moved to cancel/postpone all events and activities for April/May and potentially June and July. Our club will review this on a fortnightly basis and make any changes as required. This, unfortunately, also includes our dinner meetings. However, we are looking into online alternatives and have gauged our members’ interest.
So what are we doing to help? Firstly, it is so important that our members are looked after and any help they require is provided. Our members range from early 20s to mid 90s, and we need to look out for one another. We need to be very careful sending our members out into the community to ‘serve’ as our first priority needs to be the health and safety of our members. We are staying connected by phone, text messages, email and social media.
A number of our projects have unfortunately needed to be put on hold, like many other clubs. We were disappointed to cancel our Hear Me Roar! Project Working Bee which was to be held on Sunday April 26th, but it was necessary to do so. A couple of our members have continued working on the Hear Me Roar! Project while in isolation, drawing/cutting/sewing cushions and port pillows, ready to be completed for delivery when hospitals are accepting them again.
We have also started making headbands for medical staff that include a button on each side to enable them to hook their mask onto it and protect the back of their ears. Medical staff are wearing masks more at the moment and having to constantly change them for every new patient they see. These headbands will help prevent rubbing and build-up behind the ears. The first batch were delivered to an Adelaide hospital this week.
In addition to this, with over 1,000 books boxed up ready to sort and label, what better time to jump in than when we are stuck at home. 275 bags, each with 4 books, were sorted by age, packed up and donated to Puddle Jumpers SA for distribution to disadvantaged and vulnerable youth here in South Australia this week. We also donated 37 handmade kids’ headbands.
If there is a charity or organisation that needs specific assistance, please contact our club and we will help where we can. Many of our projects and activities that would help the community in situations like this usually, are difficult due to our members being in isolation and social distancing.
The coming weeks and months are going to be difficult for everyone, and we need to come together and support each other.
