An urgent appeal for spectacles, bicycles ,tools, and sewing machines needed for Africa.

Inspite of Covid restrictions, Newcastle Lions Club were very pleased to end 2021 with a very successful Christmas Appeal for the Pantry Foodbank Newcastle.

In preparing to organise a spectacles collection the Lions Club became aware of an urgent need of a charity that the club had helped previously . In response, Newcastle Lions will now be organising a collection in early March.

Previous in March 2020 in the week before lockdown the Lions collected tools including sewing machines for the Downpatrick branch of Tools for Solidarity . This group is today in urgent need of unwanted sewing machines. It does not matter if it it is a Singer, Janome, Ptaff or Bernina all are gratefully received.

In a first for Newcastle Lions in March the club are also asking for donations of adult bicycles. The bicycles will be delivered to the Belfast based charity Bike Aid Africa. The bicycles will be repaired and then shipped by the charity to one of the poorest countries in Africa, Madagascar.

If you have difficulty in delivering the sewing machine when the Lions are collecting in March please contact the Lions on 07725725932

Photograph: Newcastle Lions Club President Liz Murphy and Lion Tom Hughes. prepare for the collections.

Newcastle Lions have a busy Saturday, 11th December 2021

On Saturday, Newcastle Lions held a collection at local garages within the rules of covid. For Lion Marian while getting ready to undertake her one and half hour shift, this involved wearing a mask, gloves and sanitising a collection bucket that secured at a distance in a shopping trolley. Like all charities this year has been difficult both to collect and for the Lions to undertake service projects, such as organising the annual senior citizens away day. Newcastle Lions would like to thank everyone for the support given. The club will be holding further events including on the 17th they invite you to take part in a pub quiz in the Harbour Inn at 9.00 pm and then on Saturday 18th while visiting TESCO Supermarket, you will have another opportunity to donate, if you missed the collection on the previous Saturday.

Dan 07725725932

Photo, Lion Marian Mc Greevy with her socially distanced collection bucket.

Foodbanks at Christmas.

Newcastle Lions join with Armagh and Down Lions to help Foodbanks at Christmas.

This year with all Lion Clubs finding fund raising difficult, Newcastle Lions Club has joined with Lions in Armagh, Ballynahinch ,Banbridge, Downpaptrick and Newry to combine their efforts to raise much needed funds for all the food banks in each of the towns. At the end of the fund raising on the 12.12.21 , all money donated will be split equally 6 ways for the foodbanks.

The Lions will dig deep in their own pockets having arranged a 5k sponsored walk for the 6 presidents and a raffle. They will also take part in a zoom night at the races.

The fund raising has been very well supported by the local press and the public are encouraged to help the fund raising by donating through, www.lionsnewcastlecodown.org and click the donate button. Remember 100% of your donation will be helping all the foodbanks in the 6 towns.