If you have ever seen a Lions Club banner around Midrand, chances are it is near a place that has been touched by kindness.

Since its charter in 1988, the Midrand Lions Club has remained steadfast in its mission to serve the community with dedication, compassion, and impact.

Over the years, the club has undertaken numerous initiatives addressing hunger, health, education, and environmental sustainability, demonstrating the Lions’ global motto: ‘We Serve’.

Through its Hunger Relief Programme, the Lions Club provides essential food assistance to eight crèches in Ivory Park, one orphanage in Noordwyk, a home for the mentally challenged in Blue Hills, and a home for the elderly in Ivory Park.

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Club administrator Jacqui Hocking said the programme operates daily to ensure no beneficiary goes to bed hungry.

“By providing regular meals, we not only nourish bodies but also nurture potential. Children perform better in school, and adults experience improved dignity and productivity.”

Recognising that good health is central to well-being, the club hosts monthly community health clinics on the last Saturday of every month. These clinics offer free eye screenings, reading glasses, hearing tests, and diabetes and blood pressure testing, while prescription spectacles are provided at a significantly reduced cost.

“With 90% of vision loss being preventable or treatable, our services empower individuals to lead better, healthier lives.”

The club has also donated T-shirts, sun visors, and runners’ money bags to local schools and community groups, including Olievenhoutbosch Community, Yenzani Children’s Home, Nolotjie Day Care Centre, Uluthando Day Care Centre, Rifthouse Academy, and Pheladi a Serogole Youth Group.

In its ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, the club recently planted a Cape holly tree (ilex mitis) at Yenzani Children’s Home, among many other initiatives it does for the community.

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Hocking emphasised that the club’s community service projects are funded entirely through donations and fundraising.

“Where there is a need, the Lions Club acts to serve, provided that funds allow us to do so. Every rand donated by the public goes directly into community projects.

It’s important to note that no public funds are ever used for administrative purposes. Our members cover those costs through annual dues.”

The Midrand Lions Club expressed heartfelt gratitude to its donors, sponsors, and community partners for their ongoing support.

Those wishing to support, or learn more about the Lions Club of Midrand’s initiatives, can contact the club through its community centre at The Boulders Shopping Centre, or via email at: [email protected]

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