Lions clubs around the world are uniting through kindness to help the people of Ukraine who desperately need it. On Sunday, April 10, the Sunshine Coast community became part of that united kindness by supporting the Sunshine Coast Lions Club burger and beverage fundraiser to assist the people of Ukraine at the Lighthouse Pub in Sechelt.
The event was an unqualified success, raising more than $15,000 in a single day through ticket sales, 50/50 draws, a silent auction and donations. Hundreds of people attended, participated and/or donated, making it the largest single-event fundraiser the Sunshine Coast Lions Club has ever held in its 57-year history.
The generosity of so many people made this happen: from the Lighthouse Pub who, together with their suppliers, partnered with the Lions Club and donated the food and beverages served, to the dozens of local individuals and businesses who responded to silent auction item requests, to Jim Taylor’s free musical entertainment, and finally, but certainly not least, to the little girl named Charlie who came with her mom to donate $93 that she and her sister raised selling some of their toys.
All of the money raised from this event is being donated to the Lions Clubs International Foundation which then disperses 100 per cent of the donated funds through humanitarian relief grants and its Refugees and Displaced Persons Fund to help Lions Clubs in Ukraine and neighbouring European countries provide immediate assistance to Ukraine residents and refugees. To date, LCIF has sent more than US$824,000 in grants to Lions Clubs in Europe to assist the people of Ukraine. If anyone wishes to make a donation to LCIF to help them continue this vital work, they can contact the Sunshine Coast Lions Club Treasurer, Linda Stroud, at 604-989-5580.
The mission of Lions Clubs worldwide is simply to serve and the Sunshine Coast Lions Club members extend heartfelt thanks to everyone on the Coast who contributed to helping us serve in relief for the people of Ukraine.
