By Marcus Uhe

The Lyndhurst and District Lions Club has poured its generosity into the community, with the latest benefactors being the Casey Health Aged Care facility in Narre Warren.

A first batch of 75 treatments including snacks, handwritten messages, personal items and puns were delivered to the facility on Thursday, June 2, for staff to distribute to residents.

75 more were delivered on Tuesday, June 7.

Lyn Perera of the Lions club said the idea had been maturing for months.

“Earlier this year, we thought the elderly were left behind around nursing homes because they couldn’t have visitors at that time,” Ms Perera said.

“They may have visitors now, but still limited and a difficult process.

“We are keen to help our community and are always open to suggestions from the general community on how to use the time and money available.”

The idea for the project first emerged in January but required meticulous budgeting as the club had missed crucial fundraising opportunities in recent years due to the pandemic.

Lions members dug deep to bring the project to life, Ms. Perera said.

It wasn’t just residents who received the thoughtful gifts — Casey Health Aged Care staff also received chocolates as a token of their appreciation.

The facility’s lifestyle coordinator, Nathan Neal, described the gesture as very generous and heartwarming.

Mr Neal said it was wonderful that people were still thinking about older people.

“Lyn said she wanted to make the residents smile,” he said.

“It was a nice surprise for them and their reaction was excellent.

“From a community perspective, it’s such a nice gesture. Elder care has been painted with a pretty bad brush in recent years.

“It (Covid-19) has not been easy for staff and residents. We’re glad they reached out and did such a great thing.

The Lions have been busy with other initiatives this year, including fundraising for flood victims in northern New South Wales and Queensland.

In August, the Lions Club of Lyndhurst and District, in association with the Lions Club of Dandenong Supper and the Lions Club of Dandenong, organize a skin cancer control and awareness unit in the parking lot of the Sandown Park Hotel, offering free skin checks on August 13 and 14.

Verifications will be carried out by volunteers who are fully trained, certified and supervised by professionals.