Lions take pride in giving back to community in variety of ways

Men may not be "game enough" to join the Sulphur City Lions Club but the women involved are always ready to serve their community.
Each year the group runs fundraising activities to support local community organisations and individuals who may need assistance for medical equipment.
The motto of the club is "We Serve".
President Maureen Carrington said everyone involved wanted to give something back to the community and had an aim of raising $10,000 for each charity they supported.
"We just love to help out less fortunate people than ourselves and giving something back to our community," she said.
It wasn't all about raising funds or awareness of a need though, Mrs Carrington said.
"We have a lot of fun activities and fun together. We do a lot of social activities and have guest speakers from the community come in to talk to us," she said.
"We love being involved in our community, especially helping children ... Lions is such a great organisation."
However, all members are women.
She said no men had been "game enough" to join yet.
This year the group is raising money for Riding for the Disabled, and supplying covers for horses and regularly support a girl who requires a heart walker.
Club member Deirdre Wilson said everyone involved in the club was close.
"We all look out for each other," she said.
Some of the projects the club has raised money for are jaws of life equipment for Rotorua firefighters, a defibrillator and stretcher for Rotorua St John Ambulance, Rotorua Hospice, paint for the chemotherapy ward at Rotorua Hospital, two La-Z-Boy chairs for the children's ward, gloves and boots for Rotorua Lakes Volunteer Coastguards and they have also raised money for guide dogs.
They have also been involved with other clubs raising funds for night-vision goggles for the BayTrust Rescue Helicopter Service, to build the new Ronald McDonald holiday retreat at Ngongotaha and the new cancer lodge being built in Hamilton.
They regularly fundraise for the Salvation Army foodbank, entertain at rest homes, provide Christmas cakes and refreshments for the elderly, run young speech-maker contests, assist the blood bank, cater for Care and Craft, deliver Christmas and Easter gifts to Meals on Wheels clients, the elderly and Waiariki Women's Refuge.
They organise garden parties, sell candy floss at school galas, run theatre evenings, as well as doing catering, dinners, Christmas raffles and sausage sizzles.
Socially, club members take part in bus trips, holidays together, sharing dinners, car rallies, listening to guest speakers and having lots of fun.
Members will be attending the Lions Convention in Hamilton and zone clubs are hosting the Lions Convention at the Distinction Hotel from April 15-17.
 
OUR CLUB
- Sulphur City Lions Club, formally Rotorua Lionesses Club, was chartered as a social and fundraising group in 1992.
- They meet at the Sudima Hotel on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at 6.30pm for fellowship and business meetings.
- Members are regularly running fundraising campaigns.
- There are currently 29 female members.
For more information contact president Maureen Carrington, phone (07) 349 3336.