We Serve
District 1F Lions
Grant Township
Swaziland Project
Travel Journals
Aug 2011
Mar 2011
Jul 2010
Jun
2010
Apr 2010
Feb 2010
Nov 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
Feb 2009
Jan 2009
Dec 2008
Sep 2008
Aug 2008
Jun 2008
Vehicle purchased by Lions.
Grant Township can be proud of the fact that our efforts led to District 1-F receiving a grant from Lions Clubs International Foundation. That money plus the money we raised, the Manzini Lions Club raised and other contributors enabled The Luke Commission to purchase this vehicle. This vehicle will be of great help in providing medical care to people in the bush. Without the support of the Lions of District 1-F this could never have happened. One person can do a little; together we can accomplish almost anything.
It is now time to move on to a new project, building a compound. This is a project that will take a very large sum of money and will take more than District 1-F to accomplish. If we could involve all the Lions of Illinois we could pay for a building to house the eyeglasses and exam center. We could have the building named Lions of Illinois Eye Center or something to that effect.
Together in Lionism we can and do change lives.
Thanks to all who care!
Lion Don Borgwardt
Pictured above are Manzini Lion Karin Byars and The Luke Commission team member Sipho Mabuza
PET MI-Holland
HAITI – HERE WE COME!!!!
If this sounds like a mission you would to be involved in, pack
your bags and come along. As of right now it looks like four people are
going. There are several ways you can be used.
The
Hug A
Child program is giving love and special attention
to the children in the orphanage.
The
Garden Project is establishing gardens for the
orphanages so they can raise some of their much needed food.
Of course there is
PET
Project that will be there to check out.
Is this for you?
WHEN: Some time in October, 2011.
COST: Approximately $1,200 to $2,500. Depends on transportation cost.
Check out Rays of Hope for Haiti website.
Call Judy at 616-396-2031 at PET or 616-786-2774 at home for more information.
TLC and PET Partner to "Able" the Disabled
PET Newsletter for August 2011
Reception for VanderWals on October 21, 2010
On October, the Grant Township Lions hosted a reception for the VanderWals in Fox Lake to celebrate another successful year of medical and vision treatment in Swaziland. Drs Harry and Echo VanderWal shared videos of a typical day in the field, thanked the Lions for their part in acquisition of two new vehicles that have greatly improved their productivity, and asked for continued assistance in obtaining medical supplies, funding, and for help in obtaining a 3rd vehicle. Dr. Echo reported that she had been fully accredited as a Nurse Practitioner in Swaziland, a first for that country. During the reception, PDG Lion Larry Spaeth formally inducted the VanderWals into Lionism. Pictures from the reception are here:
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| Swaziland Reception Oct 21 2010 |
Sep 2010 Travel Journal
July 2010 Travel Journal
June 2010 Travel Journal
April 2010
Travel Journal
October 2009 Report from Student Volunteers from Swaziland
|
Wheels are Turning at the Luke Commission
Lions Dr. Harry and Echo VanderWal, Grant Township Lions lead The Luke Commission, a team of Americans and Swazis who hold mobile medical clinics out in the bush. As the months pass more and more Lions in Illinois are becoming involved with helping the needy people in Swaziland. Swaziland is located in southern Africa and a long way from Illinois, but that does not stop the Lions of District 1-F and all of Illinois to show that WE SERVE. We anxiously await the participation of Lions from the entire World in this very worthwhile Medical Mission.
The Grant Township Lions Club, Illinois and the Manzini Lions Club, Swaziland became Twinning Clubs and are working together to help the VanderWals.
The VanderWals travel into the bush and set up each mobile clinic for one day. No matter how late or how dark it becomes, The Luke Commission workers do not leave until all medical patients have been diagnosed and all patients with eye problems tested by an auto refractor that was purchased for the Luke Commission by the Lions of District 1-F.
The Grant Township Lions Club is now in the Middle of raising $30,000.00 for new vehicles (see the following article). To participate, please e-mail Lion Don Hook at liondon1f@att.net. Carrying all of the supplies needed to conduct a clinic over rough country on unimproved roads roads is very hard on the vehicles which take a beating
The VanderWals spent nine months in Swaziland in 2008 staying through mid-October. They provided medical and vision care to Swazis who may have never seen a physician or been able to afford the simplest of medicines, let alone antibiotics and medications to fight the HIV virus.
The VanderWals also line up surgeries for patients with extreme problems and work with the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital in the city of Manzini to provide follow-up care.
In 2008, 21,140 patients were treated out in the bush. On average, each patient was given 3 to 10 medications,. In total, 157,000 packets of medicine were distributed. In addition, 9,529 eye patients were analyzed and fitted for eyeglasses. People walk for miles to attend the bush clinics, and often spend the entire day standing in line.
If you
would like to learn more about The Luke Commission, please visit
www.lukecommission.org.
Reception on December 2, 2008 was a great hit!
On Tuesday December 2, Lion DG Paul Pioch and the Arlington Heights and Grant Township clubs hosted a reception for Lions Doctor Harry and Echo VanderWal in recognition of their return from a successful 7-month medical mission to Swaziland. Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene J. Mulder welcomed the group of 33 Lions from through District 1F, and Lion Doctor Harry VanderWal and his wife Lion Echo VanderWal provided highlights of this year's mission. They spoke of the delightful smiles of the thousands of people who received medical treatments at more than 50 clinics held in rural Swaziland. They spoke of the miracle of sight as they dispensed more than 10,000 pair of glasses contributed by the clubs in District 1F, and by supporters in Ohio. Click HERE to see and download pictures from the reception.
Vernon Hills club joins Swaziland effort
Vernon Hills Lions Club is the latest club to join the Grant Township
Lions in their support of The Luke Commission and their mission in
Swaziland, Africa. On Feb 19th Lion Don Borgwardt and
Co-Chairs of the Swaziland program for Grant Township Lions Club, Lions
Diane and Ken Klein spoke at the Vernon Hills Lions Club. At the
end of the presentation they were pleasantly surprised to receive a car
load of donations, glass cases, and used towels, blankets, and sheets,
small bars of soap, baby wipes, toothpaste, pens, copy paper and
notebook paper. Thank You Vernon Hills Lions Club
Lion Don Borgwardt
Secretary
Grant Township Lions Club
847-207-5521
The following is information about the project.
June Travel Journal from Swaziland
August Travel Journal from Swaziland
September Travel Journal from Swaziland
December Travel Journal from Swaziland
January 2009 Travel Journal -- The line of Patients never quite ends
Lion Jack Brey 129 E. Weathersfield Way, Schaumburg, IL 60193