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Hurricane
Katrina
Relief Efforts
by
Lions Clubs International
What Lions/LCIF Are Doing
http://www.lions-katrina.org/what_lions_are_doing.php
Donations are pouring into LCIF to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Every day we also receive numerous reports of how Lions nationwide are
assisting the relief effort. Hundreds, if not thousands, of clubs have
collected and transported goods, provided services for evacuees, raised
funds or even traveled to the Gulf Coast to lend a hand. Here are just
a few examples.
- A 14-person Lions Disaster team from Nevada ands California loaded
up pickup trucks and motor homes with food, clothing and supplies,
headed
east to Mississippi and set up a central command post at the Gulfport
Lions Deaf Center. Quickly realizing that families in need had no
way to come to them, the Lions broke up into four-person teams and
traveled
deep into rural areas to deliver supplies. Grateful recipients said
the Lions were the first relief personnel they had seen. The Lions,
who had
to battle hordes of nasty mosquitoes, also helped the distressed
residents with debris removal.
- The daughter of Past International Director Jack Weber persuaded
her students at a Long Island, New York, school to donate the funds
they
raised for Katrina victims to LCIF. The amount is expected to be
several thousand dollars.
- The Waverly Lions Club in Iowa is gathering 1,000
pounds of construction-related tools and supplies such as hammers,
saws, nails and screwdrivers for
a Lions warehouse in Mobile, Ala., that is serving hurricane
victims. Other clubs in the Waverly Club’s zone were challenged
to match that amount.
- Spearheaded by the Liberty Lions Club, many Lions clubs
in Indiana filled a semi-tractor truck with food, clothing, baby
supplies and
toilet paper
and had a trucker drive it to the Lions’ warehouse in Mobile.
- Lions from District 2-S2 in the Houston area provided vision screenings
for 3,000 evacuees at the Reliant Center and the George R.
Brown Convention Center in Houston. About 2,000 of those screened were
fitted with replacement
eyeglasses. LensCrafters and Wal-Mart partnered with Lions
on the
Lions Eyeglasses for Katrina Evacuees Project. The Lions Eye
Bank of Texas
trailer is now being used to reach evacuees in other locations
who may need eyeglasses.
- Leos of District 25B in Indiana helped hurricane victims in a number
of ways. President Justin Stech of the West Noble Leos delivered supplies
and a check to Sidell, La. The Prairie Heights Pride Club sent batteries,
water and food to Mississippi. The Albion Junior High Leos prepared
120 tote bags of personal care supplies, and the DeKalb Classic Leos
sent a truck of supplies to New Orleans.
- Chester Lions Club in New Jersey donated US$50,000 to LCIF for Hurricane
Katrina Relief. The donation was made in the memory of Robert Cole
and Dr. Max Kaye, two Lions whose combined service was nearly 100
years.
LCIF also is moving ahead with assistance to those affected
by Katrina. The steering committee for hurricane relief arranged for
a mobile eye
van belonging to the Alabama Lions to provide vision exams and dispense
eyeglasses in Mississippi. Vision Service Plan (VSP) has generously agreed
to provide optometrists to staff the van (in addition to volunteer Lions),
and the University of Alabama-Birmingham is providing the necessary equipment.
Uncovered expenses will be paid for by LCIF from the US$200,000 Major
Catastrophe grant it previously awarded. Undoubtedly, this project will
not only help people with their eyeglass needs but also uncover eye disease
in its early stage and prevent blindness.
Lions also have provided children
in Mississippi whose schools were destroyed with a “school in a box,” a
UNICEF kit with school materials and supplies. Lions delivered 23 kits,
each of which serves
80 children, to the St. Martin school district, which had two of its
three schools destroyed, and Bay Waveland school district, which has
only one school open out of six. The kits contain 39 kinds of school
items including books, pencils, erasers, scissors, chalkboards, plastic
cubes for counting and a set of three laminated posters (alphabet and
multiplication and number tables). The kit allows a teacher to establish
a makeshift classroom almost anywhere.
The school superintendents
who received the kits “expressed their
deep appreciation for our efforts and asked that we keep them in our
prayers,” said International Director Howard Jenkins of Mississippi,
who, along with Past International Directors Al Brandel of New York and
Lowell Bonds of Alabama, spearheaded the effort to help the schoolchildren.
Jenkins and Bonds serve on the steering committee set up by LCIF to coordinate
Katrina relief. The school kit operation is the first time the U.S. government
permitted UNICEF to aid in an American disaster. Lions are one of only
four distribution organizations.
LCIF has received US$1.5 million to date
from Lions for Hurricane Katrina relief. LCIF will use the funds to
address unmet needs of those affected
by the hurricane including: 1.) providing shelters with unmet substantial
needs such as food, clothing, personal hygiene items and bedding, 2.)
offering health services such as eyeglass distribution, and 3.) meeting
needs of Lions camps and facilities housing victims of the disaster.
Donations
to LCIF for Hurricane Katrina from Aug. 29 to Nov. 30, 2005, are eligible
for Melvin Jones Fellowship recognition. To count toward
an MJF, the donation must be a single US$1,000 payment from a donor.
The Melvin Jones Fellow does not have to be named when the donation
is made.
The relief efforts of Lions and LCIF have resulted
in many newspaper and radio stories. In some cases one Lions’ project
has led to multiple stories. Lions Tod Curtis and Frank Stove from
the Mount Prospect
Lions Club near Chicago piloted a plane to Slidell, La., to deliver 1,500
pounds of donations. The two Lions brought back with them two evacuees
who were reunited with their families staying at a shelter near Chicago.
Lion Frank Salato handled the public relations and did a great job. At
least three newspapers and three radio stations ran stories.
Message from
LCIF Chairperson September 1, 2005
http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lions_lcif_katrina.shtml
The devastation
caused by Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida
is deeply troubling. Our hearts go out to those who are suffering and
face an uncertain future. We are acutely aware of the struggle for clean
water, food and shelter, to say nothing of the need to be able to return
to work and school.
LCIF will do all it can to help victims recover their lives. LCIF has
awarded a US$200,000 Major Catastrophe Grant to help victims. I also
have approved emergency grants for districts affected by the hurricane.
Three US$10,000 emergency grants have been awarded for Districts 8-O,
8-S 8-I in Louisiana. I expect many emergency grants to be approved very
soon when district governors are able to contact us.
LCIF has set up a designated fund for Lions and others who wish to help
the hurricane victims. Checks can be mailed to LCIF at 300 W. 22nd St.,
Oak Brook, IL 60523, USA. Make the check payable to LCIF and indicate
on the memo line that the donation is for Hurricane Katrina.
All donations for Hurricane Katrina count toward a club’s and
district’s giving totals. (Donations from U.S. residents also are
tax deductible.) However, these donations are not eligible for Melvin
Jones Fellowship recognition.
As with other large-scale disasters, I am sure Lions are eager to assist
victims in various ways besides donating funds. To help facilitate the
expected volunteer efforts of Lions, with the approval of the executive
officers, I have appointed a steering committee of four leading Lions
from the four states most affected by the tragedy to serve as liaisons
between LCIF, Lions in the disaster areas and Lions who want to help.
These four Lions are:
- International Director Robert Eichhorn
4301 St. Francis Street,
Metairie, Louisiana, 70001,
337-237-7169 (temporary phone number),
504-525-7235
(business),
504-455-6951 (home), 504-525-7238, (fax), execdirector@llef.gs.net
- International Director Howard Jenkins
850 Mt. Vernon Road, Columbus,
Mississippi, 39702,
662-328-2756 (home number and fax).
- Past International
Director Lowell Bonds
1808 Hummingbird Lane, Hoover, Alabama, 35226,
205-322-6575 (business), 205-823-4941 (home),
205-328-3612
(fax), ljbonds@aol.com
- Past International Director E. Robert
Lastinger
29743 Morwen Place, Wesley Chapel, Florida, 33543,
813-994-9604
(residence),
813-994-0844
(fax), edbobl@earthlink.net
I have asked Past International Director Bonds to oversee the steering
committee for the purpose of coordinating short-term and long-term
assistance for the hurricane victims.
Please keep in mind that they may difficult to reach, at least initially,
because of disruption in services in the disaster areas as well as their
heavy workload. Please keep trying to reach them.
We are aware that in past disasters of this magnitude goods often are
collected and shipped to a disaster area that are not needed and ultimately
are not used. So please refrain from collecting items until more about
immediate needs is known.
You should also know that International
President Ashok Mehta has issued
a statement on the hurricane on the Lions’ Web site. Please take
a minute to read his words of consolation and encouragement.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those in the affected areas. Thank
you in advance for any assistance you can provide.
Yours in Service,
Clement F. Kusiak, 2005-2006 LCIF Chairperson
Make a
Donation
http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/lions_lcif_donate.shtml
You can also donate through the Encinitas Lions Club and get the same
write off that you would get through LCIF. Note on the check where the
money is to be spent and we will submit it to LCIF for that use. We are
also a 501 (c) (3).
Make your check payable to:
Encinitas Lions Club Foundation
Mail or deliver to :
Motherlode Bookkeeping
207 W. D Street
Encinitas Ca 92024 |