Finding the right way to help turned out to be sew easy
Kindness never goes out of style
The City of Adelaide Lions Club in Southern Australia showed kindness by paying attention to the real needs of those around them—and then acting on them. This club was a winner of the 2020-2021 Kindness Matters Service Award that was created to recognize innovative service projects in one of the global cause areas.
And regardless of what someone is going through, we simply want to make them smile and feel comfortable.
Someone else’s shoes
You never really know how to help a person undergoing cancer treatment unless you’ve been one yourself. In 2016, Adelaide Lions read a blog written by a woman going through treatment for cancer. She wrote that, while she appreciated the gifts from her family and friends, many of them were unsuitable for her condition. The smell of the flowers or candy they sent would make her nauseous or irritate her skin.
The Lions thought they could do better and started the Hear Me Roar! Project that same year.
The effort is dedicated to easing the pain, discomfort and loneliness that many cancer patients and others in other challenging situations may feel. They wanted to provide real value to patients while also helping them feel less alone.
The Lions began putting together care packages for cancer patients, including multi-purpose, heart-shaped cushions and port pillows to attach to seatbelts to keep them from rubbing against patients’ chemotherapy ports.
It wasn’t long before the project expanded to provide cushions to other patients in hospitals and colorful, heart-shaped pillows to vulnerable youth in foster care to help them feel loved and valued.
Kindness grows
In 2018, the club began addressing the challenge of youth literacy. Lions began collecting, sorting and packing age-appropriate books into book bags for distribution to disadvantaged and vulnerable youth across Australia.
Club president Petrea Stacey said the reason why the project evolved in so many powerful ways was simple. “Life is full of challenges,” she said. “And regardless of what someone is going through, we simply want to make them smile and feel comfortable. We want them to know there are people out there supporting them and thinking of them and bringing them hope and kindness to help them through the challenges they’re facing.”
Busy bees
To date, the club has delivered about 3,000 cushions, 900 port pillows, 2,300 bags of books and 1,000 other miscellaneous items, such as handmade bibs or scrunchies. Stacey estimates the project has helped more than 7,000 people.
The work to make the cushions involves four large sewing bees a year, some mini-bees and individuals who work on their own to make cushions and other items. The club hosts barbecues and other fundraising initiatives to support the project.
Stacey said that all the work is worth the effort. “We’ve received letters and emails of thanks and heard stories of children who keep their cushion as a comforter and security blanket,” she said.
And that’s no surprise. Because kindness comes in all shapes and sizes, and you never, ever grow out of it.
See more kindness in action
The winning clubs represent all constitutional areas and show just how meaningful it is to be a Lion or Leo. See the complete list of the winners.
Annemarie Mannion is a freelance writer and former reporter for the Chicago Tribune who loves writing about the good work Lions do.
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