Bairnsdale Lions Club is sincerely thanking businesses and individuals who have and also continue to support the club’s activities.
With community support the club has, over the past 58 years, been able to make greater than $1 million in contributions to local, national and international communities, according to president Kathi MacDonald.
Community minded local businesses and organisations show their support for club initiatives by:
– Donating prizes for our major raffle each year
– Selling Lions cakes and puddings all year round
– Selling Christmas trees in December
– Schools assisting in the Letters to Santa project
– Providing space at their business for club members to sell raffle tickets and cakes or to collect donated food for families in need.
With the support of these businesses, community members show their support by purchasing goods and raffle tickets or donating foods.
Bairnsdale Lions are proud of their recent contributions to the community which for the year 2024/2025 donations totalled $56,000.25.
Recipients were: St Vincent de Paul (2); Arthur Grassby Sponsorship; Australian Lions Foundation; Riding for the Disabled; East Bairnsdale Neighbourhood House (2); Rotary Centenary House; Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre; Lions Hearing Dogs; Ensay Bush Nursing Centre; Steers for Students; Senior Citizens Free BBQ; Neighbourhood House; Christmas in July; ALF Cyclone Alfred Disaster Fund; GEGAC free BBQ; Beyond Blue; CLP Secondary BBQ and Jigsaw; Ride for Sight (2); Courthouse Community Coffee; Sponsorship to Kaden Hicks to represent Australia in school games in Canada; Scout Solar Panel; Senior Citizens BBQ (2); East Gippsland Community Christmas Appeal Puddings (2); Salvation Army; Child Week BBQ (2); Royal Flying Doctor Service; Graduation sponsorship; McGrath Foundation;
Lions PNG Bush Nursing Huts and baby bundles.
In addition to making financial contributions, Bairnsdale Lions also work throughout the year with the community in other ways:
– Barbecue catering – for small and large groups throughout the community with the Lions barbecue trailer and gazebo
– Recycled spectacles – collected and are then issued to those in need from underprivileged countries
– Stamp recycling – used stamps are collected and sold to collectors and the funds used to contribute to Lions Australia causes
– Letters to Santa – children’s letters are collected from schools and retailers and help is given to Santa to reply to each and every letter
– Community project – maintaining community assets including the BRHS helipad
– Community requests – where possible provide help after receiving requests for assistance from the community
“Bairnsdale Lions Club members recognise that without public support the club would not be able to make such a positive contribution to the community. Our motto is “WE SERVE”,” Kathi said.
“New members are welcome to help with this service to the community and we meet on the first and third Thursday of each month at the Bairnsdale Bowls Club at 7pm.”
