The Voorhees-Gibbsboro Lions Club collaborated with the township’s Iron Hill Brewery on Nov. 20 for Dine & Donate, an event that combined fundraising with a food drive for needy residents.
“One of the goals of the Lions Club is to support local businesses,” said club secretary Mimi Hadi. “We also want to support the community by raising funds for charity.”
Proceeds from the event will support causes in the South Jersey area that include Cathedral Kitchen in Camden and the Girl Scouts. The partnership with Iron Hill Brewery highlighted the Lions Club’s efforts to build relationships with local businesses while addressing community needs.
The food drive was part of a broader initiative by Lions District 16L, a group of 50 Lions Clubs serving south and central New Jersey.
“Lions District 16L asked all the Lions Clubs in South Jersey to have a food drive during the month of November, and asked that the donations be donated locally,” explained Sue Gilbert, community service chair for the Voorhees-Gibbsboro club.
The Lions Club set up collection boxes at Iron Hill Brewery and other local businesses for donations that will go to Hope Food Pantry in Voorhees. The Dine & Donate event also reflected the Lions International mission to empower volunteers and serve humanitarian needs, along with emphasizing the importance of community involvement.
“Truly, local partnerships for this project provided a unique chance to address the Lions International mission of empowering club members and community volunteers to improve the health and well-being of those in need through humanitarian service,” explained Larry Melton, president of the Haddonfield Lions Club. “The Lions Club provided the leadership necessary for this partnership.”
“We want our community to know that we belong to each other,” noted Kim Gill, president of the Voorhees-Gibbsboro Lions. “We are connected. The community needs to help the needy. The holidays are here, and we want everyone to celebrate.”
The Voorhees-Gibbsboro Lions Club wants community members to join its efforts. Visit the group’s Facebook page or email Hadi at pcoiris1@gmail.com.