News

With five decades of service to the community it should come as no surprise that not even a pandemic can slow the Lions Club of Grand Cayman’s commitment to service to community here.

Having recently completed a successful series of Christmas projects the Club is getting set to mark its 50^th anniversary later this year.

Reflecting on 2021, it was clear much of the challenges from 2020 poured over into last year as the Lions had to decide very quickly how to move to Plan B and shift its approach to serving the community with COVID and its variants still at play.

Christmas projects proved especially challenging as hundreds of gifts were purchased and gifts were donated from our generous donors Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, Water Authority-Cayman, Marsh Management, JTC Group, Cayman Compass, Hurleys Supermarket, Royal Bank of Canada and Cayman National Bank. 

Second Vice President Patricia Forbes shared that the “gifts were redistributed very quickly as our annual All Islands Children’s Christmas Party usually held at the Lions Community Center had to be reconsidered very quickly”. 

With limits on gathering enforced, Forbes pointed out that Lions opted to take the gifts to the community in a mobile Christmas drive.

“The following schools and preschools were visited by the Lions and Alpha Leo Club of John Gray High School: East End Primary School, Edna Moyle Primary School, Theoline McCoy Primary School, Joanna Clark Primary School, Prospect Primary School, Red Bay Primary School, George Town Primary School, Sir John A. Cumber Primary School and JGHS also Rite Start Preschool, Tiffany Preschool, Quality Child Care Preschool, Precious Gems, Achievement Center and NCVO. The Leo Club really enjoyed working alongside the Lions Club as they were able to work outside their catchment area and be role models for the younger students in giving back to the community,” she said.

The Club is looking to continue its tradition of treating the Lighthouse School with an annual Christmas party with meals.

Last month the party also took different format as meals were taken to the students’ classrooms and Forbes said, “with students being able to stay in their own ‘bubble’ to come to see our own inhouse Santa Claus who presented gifts to them with assistance from a few Lions”.

Sunrise Adult Training Center met for their annual Christmas luncheon at Grand Old House Restaurant and, as the other schools, were very appreciative of the Lions Club effort to meet with them as they showcased their singing talents and received gifts from the Lions Santa Claus.

Forbes said Christmas morning proved to be just as fulfilling.

As early at 7am, fifty persons including Lion Club members and volunteers were out in the community delivering gifts, fruit baskets and gift cards to the elderly, including centenarians, persons in wheelchairs, and other vulnerable persons of our society. 

“COVID-19 protocols were carried out with masks worn and social distancing. With determination and the grace of God, we were still able to carry out the Christmas projects with record numbers of gifts being given. The response was overwhelming from the community in their show of appreciation.  Overall, all of these activities could not have happened without the superb team effort of the members of the Lions Club of Grand Cayman,” she said.

Planning has now turned to the 50^th anniversary celebrations later this year, the upcoming Miss Teen Cayman Islands and various community initiatives.

The Lions Helpline has also been a wonderful addition to the Club’s community outreach and has assisted in getting food support to those in need. The helpline can be reached at 345-547-9559.