Lions respond to their community’s needs and collectively are involved in a massively diverse range of projects and activities. They have strength in numbers when collectively called on to help with a national or international situation.

The catastrophic Canterbury earthquake is an example of Lions mobilising at a local level, on a national scale and campaigning internationally. Lions bought and distributed drinking water and set-up food stations within hours. They sourced and distributed chemical toilets within days. As an international partner with Red Cross, Lions made house calls to survey people’s needs.

A global fund-raising campaign headed by Lions International has so far provided nearly $1 million in cash for Canterbury families in need. 

Photo: Lions Clubs International Foundation president Eberhard Wirfs views the devastation in Cathedral Square.