Lions appeal to help 50 families in need
The Horsham Lions Club is calling for donations after it identified 50 families in the community in need of extra support this Christmas.
The club needs to raise £2,600 in order to give each family a Christmas parcel of festive food and an age appropriate gift to the 55 children between the families.
Lion Tom Osborne, the club’s publicity officer, said: “For the past 57 years, Horsham Lions Club has supported the most needy and vulnerable people residing in our Horsham community.
“In the normal course of events, the cost of this project would be financed through fundraising events during the year and our Christmas Appeal.
“Sadly these events cannot go ahead this year due to the global pandemic and as a result our funds are being severely depleted.”
For the last 20 years the Christmas appeal has taken the form of local collections during December at Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, local garden centres – most recently at Newbridge Nurseries – as well as Santa collections around The Cedar Drive area of Southwater, and The Bartholomew Way and Lemmington Way areas of North Horsham.
In addition, some 20 pubs and businesses across the district also support the appeal by running Christmas hamper raffles, sponsored by Horsham Lions. On average these events raise £5,000 in total. Tom said: “In order to help our present situation it is hoped those people in the Horsham community who have generously supported us in the past by placing money in our collection buckets, and any of the above events, will make a donation to us through our JustGiving Page which can be found on The Horsham Lions Website which is located at www. horshamlions.freeuk.com”
Any amount raised in excess of the £2,600 total will be used on local projects throughout 2021.
Club president David Trowbridge said: “I would like to thank the people of our Horsham Community for their generosity, and hope you have a safe and happy Christmas plus a more contented New Year.”
For more about Horsham Lions Club or if you are willing to give some time to benefit your local community, visit the website or email Lion David Trowbridge at david@ trowbridge.me.uk