Lions Give Supplies and Smiles to Children in Need

Lions Give Supplies and Smiles to Children in Need with the Help of a District & Club Community Impact Grant (DCG)

Growing up without parents is hard enough. But it’s even worse when an orphanage is not able to provide everything children need to be happy and healthy. Despite loving and nurturing caretakers, in less fortunate areas, there just isn’t enough to go around. Compelled to serve youth, Lions take action. In Korea, Lions used a District & Club Community Impact grant from Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) to personally deliver simple but much-needed supplies to children living at an orphanage in Vietnam.

At Mái Ấm Từ Tâm Orphanage, the luxury of shoes—much less sports equipment—is unaffordable. “The children aren’t able to be children and play,” says Hyun-Jun Lee, president of Han Seo Lions Club in Korea. “The shoes they receive through donations are old, but must be kept for long-term use.”

The limitations the children lived with had Lions concerned. Knowing the kids did not have proper shoes to protect their feet, or games to let their little imaginations run wild made them want to create a plan. The Lions decided to raise money and apply for an LCIF grant that would enable them to make a difference in the lives of these children.

With the spirit of service, 15 Lions from Han Seo Lions Club packaged loads of goods and began their journey. They left from Incheon, Korea and traveled more than 2,000 miles to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, bringing new shoes, sports equipment, school supplies, kitchen utensils, and food to 95 children. The children were delighted. They can now play sports like soccer, basketball, volleyball, and badminton. After unloading the supplies, the Lions played games with the children before enjoying some barbeque for lunch.

“We chose to visit this orphanage to make a small difference. We wanted to spread hope to children growing up without parents, share a pair of shoes, and laugh together,” says Lee. “The teachers and children were so happy and thankful for the abundance of unexpected donations we were able to provide.”

The joy brought to the children living at Mái Ấm Từ Tâm Orphanage was made possible by a District & Club Community Impact grant (DCG). This uniquely designed program enables clubs and districts to receive grants of up to 15 percent of their unrestricted donations to LCIF in a given Lion year. A valuable way to address community needs, the funding could help Lions provide comfort to a sick child, plant trees in a local park, or purchase nutritious food for hungry neighbors. Visit lionsclubs.org/grants to learn more.

Visit lionsclubs.org/campaign100 to learn how LCIF and Campaign 100 will empower Lions to serve youth through improved access to quality education, vital health services, inclusive social and recreational opportunities, and positive development programs.