Waasland Lions Club began its service to youth in 1963 just four years after it was founded. Agreeing to a judge's request, the Lions rented a home and found foster parents for 10 abandoned children from a single family. The Lions' success with those children led to the club to adopt a mission to establish facilities for wayward youths. Juvenile court judges, trusting in the Lions, assigned as many as 40 youths at a time to the three homes near Lokeren sponsored by the club.

But over time the responsibility became increasingly burdensome. The government passed regulations mandating additional services to foster children without increasing the per-child government subsidy. Problematic, too, was that the youths sent the home were increasingly troubled and needed greater attention. The end result was that the Lions could not afford basic building maintenance, and the "Jetty," as the youth service organization was known, was endangered.

A "Save the Jetty" campaign was launched to ensure that disadvantaged youths continued to have a chance at success. Answering the call to save the Jetty were various Lions clubs, private donors, local charities and, most importantly, LCIF. LCIF contributed US$54,000, or half the amount needed for building repairs.

Saving the Jetty shows the value of LCIF in helping clubs to fund projects too big to do on their own. A decade ago the Lions of Waasland created "the Friends of the Jetty" to raise funds to cover rising costs. But that assistance was not enough to cover all the costs. "The burden became impossible to carry further by the members of the Lions club Waasland," wrote the Lions of Waasland in an early report to LCIF. "We look forward to LCIF extending its powerful helping hand to safeguard this Belgium work."

Today the Jetty is on sound footing. The youths' needs are being met. The Lions of Waasland, located in northern Belgium in the East Flanders province, are continuing their decades-old service to youth.

The LCIF grant resulted in the complete restoration of Home Werner Tibbaut in Kalken. Another home, Lenteweelde-Springwealth in Belsele, also was refurbished later after local Lions clubs, the Friends of the Jetty and the Fortis Foundation donated about US$56,000.

"Our buildings are attractive again," said Etienne Huys, a Lion who is president of Friends of the Jetty. "The children who live in them feel at home again and are motivated to participate in the programs designed to help them become honorable citizens one day. Waasland Lions love to 'serve' them."