HENLEY-ON-KLIP. – The Lions Club of Henley-on-Klip’s motto, “We Serve,” is a simple motto, but it reaches far into local communities.

The club, founded in 1966, has been an integral part of the local community for many years. It might be known as the “Lions Club of Henley-on-Klip,” but it covers an area that stretches far beyond Henley-on-Klip and includes Golf Park, Meyerton, Walkerville, De Deur, and Daleside, to name but a few areas.

The club wishes to denounce this label and open its doors to anyone who resides in this area to come and join them on the firstMonday of every month at the ‘O ConnerHall in Pretorius Street, Henley-on-Klip, from 19:00 onwards.

But what does the Lions Club do, and how are they involved in the community?

What does it take to be a Lion?

In short, a small portion of your time is required once a month for meetings where the Lions Club plans how to raise funds so that they can continue to serve those who are less fortunate than us.

What projects is the Lions Club involved with?

The Lions Club’s current commitments are to provide an afternoon of Bingo for the seniors in our community, an afternoon social gathering for those who may not get to socialise.

The afternoon includes games of bingo and afternoon tea and snacks.

This is a monthly event with a party to celebrate the festive season at the end of the year.

Operation Bright Sight is also run by the Lions Club, where anyone can come and receive a free eye test and a huge discount on new glasses if required.

In addition to this, the Lions Club of Henley-on-Klip also goes into the local schools and does free screening followed up by free eye tests for those who need it. The Sewing Circle provides skills and a social gathering for those who are interested.

The Lions Club offers the hall free of charge to these ladies and has all the machines for them, with a vision to empowering participants.

Book sales happen once a month where anyone can come in and find a bargain book from as little as R10; this, in turn, provides funds for the Lions Club to be able to continue to assist the needy.

The Blood Drive is hosted by the Lions Club of Henley-on-Klip.

This crucial service has been run by Lions in conjunction with SANBS for many years, and the latest initiative to attract donors, a pint for a pint means that anyone donating can receive a voucher for a pint back from Swagga, the local craft brewery, noted for its wide range of quality craft beers, spirits, and great food.

In addition to these planned events, you will see the Lions Club out and about at many functions either raising funds or assisting the community.

In recent years, the club has been involved but not limited to the following: Marshalling at cycle races, assisting at the Henley Wine, Arts & Music Festival (WAM), helping out at the local Mardi Gras, handing out food parcels to the needy, hosting jumble sales, and hygiene pack handouts.

The Lions Club is also busy with a project that will help revamp the SAPS’ victim abuse room at Meyerton police station. Over the past few years, the Lions Club has sadly lost members due to ill health and some moving out of the area.

To continue to serve the community, the club needs committed club members who want to give a little back to those less fortunate.

All the Lions Club wants is your time and passion.

In return for this, the club can offer fun, a smile on your face, and a great social circle of people.

Meaningful projects within the surrounding community are what the Lions Club strives for.

There is a small, affordable annual membership fee, and currently, Lions International has waived the joining fee.

If you are interested in joining the Lions Club and ensuring the continued existence of this club that has been serving the community for 58 years, please pop into a club meeting or contact Lion Grant at 072 821 5307 or grant@wanabiwood.co.za.

In short: The Lions Club NEEDS YOU.

If you are unable to commit to being a full-time Lion, please consider joining as a ‘Friend of the Lions’.

The Lions Club’s latest project: January is Hunger Month and with some of the proceeds from the WAM, the Lions visited Sicelo Primary School where members met with the principal, Patricia Nkabinde.

Sicelo Primary School has been achieving amazing things with its learners and has a trophy cabinet that would be the envy of any school in the region.

Several of the 2 000 learners at the school and their families required assistance.

On 30 January, the club donated 30 food parcels, which contained not just food but also other essentials such as toothpaste, soap, and other hygiene products. These are some of the things that being part of the Lions Club is all about. It is about meeting the community and assisting where it can.

The Lions Club has thanked Sicelo Primary School for allowing members the privilege of being able to serve them.