Edenvale Lioness Club, under the auspices of Edenvale Lions Club, thanked community members for their continuous support during these trying times.
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Despite receiving support from the community, the club appealed to community members to continue so that its members could help those in need.
To learn more about the work the Lioness Club does, and how those able to can assist it, the NEWS met with member Shelley Sherwood.
Shelley, who has been a Lioness for the past 10 years, said she joined the organisation after reading an article about the club appealing to the community for baby clothes, in the Bedfordview and Edenvale News.
“I had knitted about 15 jerseys, booties and bonnets and I didn’t know what to do with them so when I read the article, I contacted the former secretary and she came to my house to collect them.”
During the visit, Shelley was informed of the club’s other outreach programmes.
“I thought that the club sounded nice because I love helping.”
Shelley said when she joined the club was fairly large with 11 members.
“I found it very exciting. I could put my spare time to use so I carried on knitting and got heavily involved as I do.”
However, over the years members started dying off and membership started waning.
Currently, the club has five members.
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“Young people have to work, look after children or a lot of them don’t want to get involved, they’ll give you something with pleasure but won’t want to help.”
Speaking about the work the club does in the community Shelley said it frequently assists the Maternity Ward at Edenvale Hospital with donations of baby clothes and baby goods.
Often the clothes given to the hospital are handmade, either crocheted or knitted by members of the club or the community.
Shelley said when the club receives a donation of wool from community members or companies like SAPROTECH it is used to create clothes or blankets.
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Currently, the club is hoping to collect nappies, baby grows, wet wipes second-hand baby seats and other baby goods.
“Whatever baby clothes and baby goods get delivered to me I take to fellow Lioness Cindy who then distributes it.”
Another initiative the club runs is a monthly food collection drive around payday at Dowerglen Spar, between 09:00 and 14:00.
“Although many people aren’t giving as much as they used to, we just want to thank everyone who does donate.”
No matter what donations the club receives club member Jenny packs 34 food parcels for pensioners at Tarentaal Village.
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“Sometimes it’s a lot, sometimes it’s not a lot but it’s never an overflow.”
In addition to assisting residents of Tarentaal, Shelley said when the club is informed of community members or pensioners in dire straits it tries to assist where it can.
Besides collecting food, the club also tries to collect personal hygiene products for those it assists.
To further assist those in need the club also collects second-hand spectacle frames for Operation Brightsight.
The operation provides corrective spectacles to those in need throughout South Africa.
Shelley said to do this the club works in partnership with several optometrists in the area to provide screenings for those in need.
Shelley explained that people who need assistance contact the club and are sent to an optometrist the club works with to get their eyes tested.
Once the eye test is done Shelley is given the script which she sends to Operation Brightsight in Benoni.
Once the glasses are ready Shelley collects them and ensures they reach the right person.
However, for Operation Brightsight to be a success the club needs any second-hand spectacle frames still in good working condition.
Shelley said it does not matter what condition the lenses are in as they are not used.
Speaking on what she believes makes Edenvale Lioness Club work so well, Shelley said it is because the club is generous.
“We give with love and the people feel it. We don’t just drop off donations.”
Shelley said when community members ask where their donations have been given the club shares thank you messages from its beneficiaries.
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“Over the years we have made so many friends, it’s incredible.”
To donate or become a Lioness phone Shelley on 083 309 7089.
Alternatively, donations can be delivered at the main gate at Tarentaal Village.
Edenvale Lioness Club meets on the second Friday of each month at 09.30 at Tarentaal Village.
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