Dear Lions,
On August 12, 2016, torrential rain began to fall in the southern United States. The state of Louisiana quickly succumbed to record floods as more than 10 rivers exceeded their banks. Weeks after the initial storms, nearly 10,000 people are still living in shelters and more than 50,000 homes have been flooded.
Less than two weeks later, in the early morning hours of August 24, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake rattled central Italy. Rescue efforts are underway. Search teams are using cranes and dogs to pull victims from the rubble. Entire towns have been demolished and the death toll continues to climb.
Our hearts are heavy as we try to understand the immense human suffering these events have caused. In keeping with our mission, Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) has awarded US$100,000 Major Catastrophe grants to Louisiana and Italy. The first of what will likely be several grants, these will assist Lions in those regions with meeting both immediate and long-term needs. Lions in the affected areas are focused now on distributing food, water, clothing and medical supplies and are assessing ways to provide additional assistance in the coming weeks and months.
With the generous and ongoing support of Lions, LCIF is able to respond quickly to urgent needs in the wake of natural disasters. Please consider making a donation to LCIF’s disaster relief fund so we can continue to be a beacon of light in some of the darkest hours.
Thank you,
Dr. Jitsuhiro Yamada
Chairperson, Lions Clubs International Foundation
