Lions Club group in New Jersey distribute groceries for the needy

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NJ Lions 2.0, a group of Lions Club with younger members, celebrated the 103rd year of service of Lions Clubs around the world, last week.

Founded on June 7, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, Lions Clubs members have served with uncommon kindness, putting the needs of their neighbors, their communities, and the world first.

To commemorate this auspicious occasion, NJ Lions 2.0, based in New Jersey, decided to do what they do best: serve the community by distributing food and supplies to those in need.

Edison Visionary Lions, Menlo Park Lions, Old Bridge Visionary Lions and Middlesex Visionary Lions and their associated Leo clubs took part in the service, according to a press release.

“The New York-New Jersey area has been hit especially hard by the effect of COVID-19 and there are many in our community in desperate need of food, medical supplies, and emotional support,” the group said in a statement.

In Edison, the Lions Clubs distributed food and supplies to more than 50 families. Each family was given one box containing 10 pounds of rice, 2, pounds of lentils, 2 pounds of kidney beans, 1 liter of cooking oil, onions, potatoes, apples, 4 reusable cloth masks, and other food and essentials.

This project was made possible through the generous contributions from the Telugu Fine Arts Society (TFAS).

Several office bearers of TFAS, including President Sudhaker Uppala, Incoming President Sreedevi Jagarlamudi and Past President Damu Gedala attended the distribution.

Global Action Team Area Leader of Lions Clubs International, Lion Mahesh Chitnis, First Vice District Governor elect Varsha Naik, and International Advisory Panelist of Leo Clubs Leo Ojas Chitnis graced the occasion.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lions Clubs both here in New Jersey and around the world have taken up the challenge of service.

NJ Lions 2.0 has provided more than 1300 prepared meals and 3000 masks for those in need in their local community. The Lions have also held multiple online events to help spread information about COVID-19 and to provide emotional support.

According to Lion Mahesh Chitnis, Area Leader of Global Action Team for the Lions Clubs, “Even if food insecurities is a major issue in our state, there is not enough awareness. One in 8 households in New Jersey do not know if they will get two meals a day.  With COVID-19 these statistics is worsening. Our effort is to create awareness of this basic human right and reduce hunger in our communities.”

He also thanked Dr. Raj Pandya, Nilesh Dasundi, Parul Amin, Biral Patel and BCB Indus American Bank for their community outreach.

Lions Clubs International Foundation, the funding arm of Lions Clubs International, has given more than $4 million for COVID-19 relief across the world, according to the release.