The week of Jan. 17-23 having been proclaimed Lions Week in Dufferin County, local Lions have been among the first responders to the Haitian earthquake disaster.

Lions from District A-9, Ontario, which includes clubs in Orangeville, Shelburne and Grand Valley,, were in the area when the earthquake hit, helping to establish a clean water system for the Mission of Hope orphanage, and are now assisting in providing immediate medical care.

Lions have established a command post and are administering medical assistance around the clock. They have worked out a shift system, and in the first three hours of operation tended to 100 sick and injured. Lions from 13-B, Ohio, were also in the area during the earthquake, having just completed a screening and eyeglass distribution mission to 2,500 people.

Lions Clubs International Foundation works with Lions in the immediate area to assess the greatest needs and ensure funds are used to help those who need it most. The Foundation has experience in disaster relief, providing over a combined $23 million for South Asia tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and China earthquake, as a result of Lions’ worldwide generous contributions.

Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has awarded a US$50,000 Major Catastrophe Grant to help provide for immediate needs for victims following the Jan. 12 earthquake.

Lions members in the area are mobilizing, and Lions within the Dominican Republic are collecting goods as well as using LCIF funding to purchase relief supplies, such as water, food, medicine and other essential needs, which they will be driving across the border to distribute to the areas most affected.

Additionally, this weekend, Lions of Sweden will be sending tents to Haiti this along with the Swedish government rescue team. These large tents will help house victims as well as relief workers.

As with past disasters, Lions worldwide are supporting LCIF relief efforts in Haiti. Within 48 hours, Lions worldwide pledged nearly US$250,000 to help.

Those wishing to offer additional assistance in other forms than monetary donations, may post their offers of assistance or other available resources on the Lions 2 Lions Web page www.lionsclubs.org

Donors can assist Lions in the immediate area and Lions Clubs International Foundation in responding to this disaster with a designated donation to the “LCIF Haiti Earthquake Relief” Fund.