The Royston-Cumberland Lions Club was formed in 1984, and was just the Royston Lions Club. Our sponsoring club was the Cumberland Lions Club.That club unfortunately disbanded in 1986 leaving the Cumberland area with no club to represent it. To fill in the void, the Royston Lions Club worked in the Cumberland area with the schools. After several years, we applied to the International office to be the official club in the area, and to change our name to the Royston-Cumberland Lions club. The permission from International was granted, and we were granted the authority to do major projects in this area..
Over the past years we have worked many different types of activities to raise funds for various causes. We have done several dinner/dances, we have put on magic shows, we have participated in our " Empire Day Parade" collecting monies for children in need, as well as sat at one of our shopping malls to collect for the same purpose.
At Christmas we so food hampers for needy families and individuals. These hampers are put together with enough foods to laast up to five weeks, when the families receive their next cheques or assistance. We carry on the hampers year around, but these hampers are only meant to last for two to three weeks.
We do a weekly "meat bingo" every Sunday to help raise funds as well as non-perishable ggoods to use in our hampers. We have collection bins in various locations during the winter months as a collection tool. As well our local church puts on a show to raise funds and foodstuffs. Their help is extremely appreciated.
Our biggest project last year was raising funds to supply an insulin pump to a type one diabetic whose blood sugars were totally out of control. Without the pump he had a life span of 2 to 5 years. With the help of another lions club, a well as several local groups, we raised the $6500 dollars needed to purchase the item. The recipient now has an expected life span of up to twenty years.
We have sponsored individuals with medical lifeline units, provided funding for transportation to medical procedures, helped with cataract surgeries, supplied perscription glasses, daisy readers, reading machines, firewood, hydro payments, and a myriad of other requests.
We help sponsor a "special needs" sewing program for challenged individuals, as well as a learn to golf program for these same people. We monetarily assit "Santa's Workshop" to help supply christmas toys and gifts to families in need.
As a small club, we take a great deal of pride in both our communitty, and what we accomplish in it. Our main problem is in attracting new members, especially the younger ones. There is so much to do here, biking, boating, fishing, skiing, the list goes on. We have many people who will come ut in support, but have no desire to become involved as a member. We are always looking for ways to build that attraction.
Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.
