The Lions Clubs International Foundation announced the approval of an emergency assistance grant of $10,000 to the District 50 Hawaii Lions for those impacted by the recent lava flows and mandatory evacuations.
“We are truly grateful for this emergency grant to purchase food items, blankets, cleaning and personal hygiene items for those temporarily displaced,” said Lions district governor Blayne Hanagami.
“The Lions of the Big Island, along with the support from the Lions clubs across our state, have been working with community organizers to support a recent children’s event for families forced to evacuate and sorting nonperishable food donations at the Food Basket,” Hanagami said.
In addition to the recent acquisition of this emergency grant, the District 50 Lions made an additional donation of $5,000 to complement the emergency allocation and the work of the Big Island Lions.
The ongoing and upcoming activities include:
• Preparing food bags at the Food Basket in Hilo every Thursday.
• Distributing food and emergency relief items in the Puna area — as well as around the island where displaced families might be temporarily residing — from noon-3 p.m. at Pahoa Gymnasium until supplies last.
• Furthermore, Lions also will be offering hot meals at 4 p.m. the next three consecutive Saturdays for the first 300 individuals housed in the Puna shelters and the Pahoa gymnasium.
“In addition to these scheduled events, we will continue to collaborate with the key organizers on larger community events as they are planned,” Hanagami said.
Lions in Hawaii are men and women who volunteer their time toward humanitarian causes such as helping victims of this volcanic natural disaster. Lions clubs evaluate community needs and choose service projects to meet those needs.
For more information, visit www.hawaiilions.org.
